News and notes from Reston (tm).

Friday, July 29, 2016

The Lesser of Two Weevils: RA Introduces Invasive Pests To Take Out Invasive Plants

RA weevils

So what's the RA been up to lately? Not much, just RELEASING A THOUSAND DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS INTO RESTON, is all. Give us some good blockquote, BFFs at the Walker Nature Center:

As part of Reston Association’s Integrated Pest Management program, 1,000 Mile-A-Minute Weevils (Rhinoncomimus latipes) were released to feed on the invasive Mile-A-Minute vine. Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. released 500 weevils in a restored stream reach by South Lakes High School, and the other 500 were released by RA staff along the gas pipeline easement near Trails Edge Lane. Mile-A-Minute Weed, (Persicaria perfoliata) is a vigorous vine that smothers and shades out native plants.The vine has a triangular shaped leaf, small thorns and blue to purple berries.
Even swarms of pests with freakish elongated snouts are a lesser evil than the dreaded Eight Invasive Plants. THE ENEMY OF OUR ENEMY IS OUR FRIEND.

Please to be enjoying this nightmare fuel picture of the swarms of weevils being released into the wild:

Release

What could possibly go wrong?

2 comments:

  1. What could possibly go wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just one more way that RA bugs me.

    ReplyDelete

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