Information

Agent

Galerucella calmariensis (Linnaeus)

Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae

Past Names/Synonyms: Neogalerucella calmariensis (L.)

Notes: The shift from Galerucella to the new genus of Neogalerucella was made by a taxonomist relying purely on molecular markers, and this shift had nothing to do with the ecological behavior of "G. calmariensis" or "G. pusilla" or their host preference. Following the advice of Galeuricine specialists in Europe and the Fauna Europaea, the editors of this catalogue accept Neogalerucella as a subgenus of Galerucella.

Agent Name References:
- Barbosa, P., S.M. Braxton, and A.E. Segarra-Carmona. 1994. A history of biological control in Maryland. Biological Control 4: 185-243.
- Grevstad, F.S. 2006. Ten-year impacts of the biological control agents Galerucella pusilla and G. calmariensis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in central New York State. Biological Control 39: 1-8.

Agent Synonym References:
- St. Louis, E., M. Stastny, and R.D. Sargent. 2020. The impacts of biological control on the performance of Lythrum salicaria 20 years post-release. Biological Control 140: 104123.

Agent Notes References:
- Endriss, S. 2020. (personal communication) Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, Fernow Hall, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
- Blossey, B. 2021. (personal communication) Department of Natural Resources, 211 Bruckner Hall, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

Weed

Lythrum salicaria L.

Family: Lythraceae
Common Name: purple loosestrife

Origin: Europe, northern Africa, Asia

Weed Name References:
- Blossey, B. 2002. Purple Loosestrife. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 149-157.
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.

Weed Common Name References:
- Blossey, B. 2002. Purple Loosestrife. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 149-157.
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.

Weed Origin References:
- Blossey, B. 2002. Purple Loosestrife. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 149-157.

Release and Source Information

List: 1 - Exotic Organisms Intentionally Introduced

Source: Ex. Germany
Year: 1992
Region: North America
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: AL, CA, CO, CT, DE, ID, IL, IN ,IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Subregion specific:

Release History: ID 1992 1995, MD OR PA VA 1992, MN WA 1992-1993, MT SD WY 1993-1994, NY 1992-1994, CO IL IN IA MI OH UT WI 1994, NJ RI  1994-1995, KS TN 1995, AL CT DE MA ME NH VT 1996, ND 1997, TX year and source unknown; Redistributed OR to CA 1998-2000, OR to WA 2009-2011, OR to ID 2010-2013, OR to MT NY UT 2011, WA to CA 2001 2004, TX to RI 1994, TX to CT DE IA IN KS MA ME MO NE NH ND PA RI VA VT year unknown

Release Notes: Frequently reared and distributed in a mix with Galerucella pusilla.

Source Information References:
- Blossey, B. 1997. (personal communication) Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
- Blossey, B., R. Casagrande, L. Tewksbury, D.A. Landis, R.N. Wiedenmann, and D.R. Ellis. 2001. Nontarget feeding of leaf-beetles introduced to control purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.). Natural Areas Journal 21(4): 368-377.
- Brusven, P. 2013. (personal communication) Nez Perce Biocontrol Center, P.O. Box 365, Lapwai, Idaho 834540, USA.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Grevstad, F.S. 2006. Ten-year impacts of the biological control agents Galerucella pusilla and G. calmariensis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in central New York State. Biological Control 39: 1-8.
- Hight, S.D., B. Blossey, J. Laing, and R. DeClercke-Floate. 1995. Establishment of insect biological control agents from Europe against Lythrum salicaria in North America. Environmental Entomology 24: 967-977.
- Littlefield, J.L. 1997. (personal communication) Dept. Land Resources & Environmental Sciences Montana State University PO Box 173120 Bozeman, Montana 59717-3120, USA.
- Parker, P.E., R.D. Richard, and L.E. Wendel. 2000. Biological control of purple loosestrife-cooperative implementation. In N.R. Spencer, Ed. Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 4-14 July 1999, Bozeman, Montana, USA; Montana State University pp. 428-429.
- Piper, G.L., E.M. Coombs, B. Blossey, P.B. McEvoy, and S. Schooler. 2004. Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 281-292.
- Villegas, B. and E. Coombs. 2001. Releases of biological control agents for the biological control of purple loosestrife in California. In D.M. Woods, Ed. Biological Control Program 2000 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, Sacramento, California, USA. pp. 53.
- Villegas, B. and D.B. Joley. 2002. Renewed biological control program against purple loosestrife in California. In D.M. Woods, Ed. Biological Control Program 2001 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, Sacramento, California, USA. pp. 40-41.
- Villegas, B., D.B. Joley, L. Bezark, and E. Coombs. 1999. Releases of two species of Galerucella leaf beetles for the biological control of purple loosestrife in California. In D.M. Woods, Ed. Biological Control Program 1998 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, Sacramento, California. pp. 45-46.
- Villegas, B., C. Conley, G.W. Brown, and K. Martyn. 2005. Releases of four insects for the biological control of purple loosestrife during 2004 in California. In D.M. Woods, Ed. Biological Control Program 2004 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, Sacramento, California. pp. 40-41.

Original Host Species

Unknown

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: AL, CA, CO, CT, DE, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MT, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment References:
- Blossey, B. 1997. (personal communication) Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
- Blossey, B. 2002. Purple Loosestrife. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 149-157.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Hight, S.D., B. Blossey, J. Laing, and R. DeClercke-Floate. 1995. Establishment of insect biological control agents from Europe against Lythrum salicaria in North America. Environmental Entomology 24: 967-977.

Abundance

Variable

Abundance References:
- Blossey, B. 2002. Purple Loosestrife. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 149-157.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Piper, G.L., E.M. Coombs, B. Blossey, P.B. McEvoy, and S. Schooler. 2004. Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 281-292.
- Villegas, B. 2011. Biological control of purple loosestrife in Fresno County. In D.M. Woods, Ed. Biological Control Program 2010 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services, Sacramento, California, USA. pp. 63.
- McAvoy, T.J., L.T. Kok, and N. Johnson. 2016. A multiyear year study of three plant communities with purple loosestrife and biological control agents in Virginia. Biological Control 94: 62-73.

Agent Impact

Impact: Variable
Geographic Scale of impact: Variable
Impact Notes: Well established in some states, infrequent in others. Galerucella calmariensis generally more abundant than G. pusilla, but the reverse is true at some sites for unknown reasons. High densities of Galerucella spp. have heavy impact by reducing seed production, plant density, and stunting growth. At some sites after 10–25 years since biocontrol releases, Lythrum salicaria density decreased up to 90% with a frequent increase in natives or other vegetation, though at others L. salicaria density remains unchanged. Boom-bust cycles common for this system: as agent populations build, greater dispersal results in increases in weed population, followed by increases in agent populations. Over time, L. salicaria populations decline, but this process may take a decade or longer. Impact greatest in mixed plant communities that provide competition to recovering L. salicaria. Agents do best in habitats where dry overwintering sites available. Predation, flooding, and adverse land management practices (e.g. insecticide use for mosquito control) limit populations at some locations.

Impact References:
- Blossey, B. 2002. Purple Loosestrife. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 149-157.
- Blossey, B. and M. Schat. 1997. Performance of Galerucella calmariensis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on different North American populations of purple loosestrife. Environmental Entomology 26: 339-445.
- Grevstad, F.S. 2006. Ten-year impacts of the biological control agents Galerucella pusilla and G. calmariensis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in central New York State. Biological Control 39: 1-8.
- Landis, D.A., D.C. Sebolt, M.J. Haas, and M. Klepinger. 2003. Establishment and impact of Galerucella calmariensis L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Lythrum salicaria L. and associated plant communities in Michigan. Biological Control 28: 78-91.
- Piper, G.L., E.M. Coombs, B. Blossey, P.B. McEvoy, and S. Schooler. 2004. Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 281-292.
- Skinner, L.C. and D.W. Ragsdale. 2008. Population dynamics and long-term effects of Galerucella spp. on purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, and non-target native plant communities in Minnesota. In M.H. Julien, R. Sforza, M.C. Bon, H.C. Evans, P.E. Hatcher, H.L. Hinz, and B.G. Rector, Eds. Proceedings of the XII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 22-27 April 2007, La Grande Motte, France; CAB International. pp. 643.
- McAvoy, T.J., L.T. Kok, and N. Johnson. 2016. A multiyear year study of three plant communities with purple loosestrife and biological control agents in Virginia. Biological Control 94: 62-73.
- Britton, J.S., R.T. Reber, P.E. Rothrock, and R. Dunbar. 2014. Impacts of Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla on Lythrum salicaria in Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 123(1): 23–34.
- Park, C. 2020. (personal communication) United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, 6135 NE 80th Ave, Portland, OR 97218, USA.
- Blossey, B., and S.B. Endriss. 2023. Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Agents: History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2023-28-PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE-A.

Limiting Factors

Habitat; Flooding; Land use; Predation

Limiting Factors References:
- Blossey, B. 2002. Purple Loosestrife. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 149-157.
- Blossey, B., and S.B. Endriss. 2023. Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Agents: History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2023-28-PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE-A.

Other Attack

Were other species attacked?: Yes
Other Species Attacked Notes: Following mass outbreaks of beetles, limited spillover feeding has been observed on the native Salix discolor Muhl., Potentilla anserina L., Cornus stolonifera Michx. (whose name has since been changed to Cornus sericea L. subsp. sericea), the exotic (but often cultivated) Lagerstroemia indica L., Punica granatum L., and Rosa multiflora Thunb., and unidentified species of Helianthus, Quercus, Rosa, and Solanum. Temporary adult feeding recorded on the native Decodon verticillatus (L.) Elliott and Lythrum alatum Pursh. (the latter only recorded in Canada). More recently in NY surveys, healthy populations of Decodon verticillatus observed even where adult beetle populations very high, indicating minimal or no spillover at study sites.

Non-Target References:
- Blossey, B., R. Casagrande, L. Tewksbury, D.A. Landis, R.N. Wiedenmann, and D.R. Ellis. 2001. Nontarget feeding of leaf-beetles introduced to control purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.). Natural Areas Journal 21(4): 368-377.
- Piper, G.L., E.M. Coombs, B. Blossey, P.B. McEvoy, and S. Schooler. 2004. Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 281-292.
- Park, C. 2015. (personal communication) United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, 6135 NE 80th Ave, Portland, OR 97218, USA.
- Price, J. 2020. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Invasive Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301-2532 USA.
- Blossey, B., and S.B. Endriss. 2023. Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Agents: History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2023-28-PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE-A.

Research Organizations

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (State (1))
Oregon State Department of Agriculture, Salem (State (15))
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St Paul (State (32))
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (State (34))
United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Notes