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AGRICULTURE
- BioAgents
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350 E. Delaware Ave.,
#9 Republic, WA 99166
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| Phone:
(509) 775-5235 |
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Fax:
(509) 775-5218 |
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Colville Reservation Bioagent
Project
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Project Director: Daniel L.
Fagerlie
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Project Coordinators: Tyler
Wilson
& Dale K. Whaley
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Project funded through USDA Water Quality Cooperative Extension
Funds, Colville and Okanogan National Forests, Colville Confederated
Tribes, and many other partners in the Quad County area.
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The Quad County/Colville Reservation Bioagent Project is an
effort to expand the knowledge and availability of biological
agents for the suppression of non-native noxious weeds in
our area. The WSU Ferry County Extension Office is leading
the Quad County Bioagent Project. This project uses USDA Water
Quality, Forest Service, Colville Confederated Tribes and
Bureau of Indian Affairs project monies to provide for the
education on, collection, redistribution, and monitoring of
bioagents to fight noxious weeds in Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens,
Pend Oreille Counties, and the Colville Reservation. Ty Wilson
was hired as the project coordinator. His work is carried
out in close cooperation with USDA Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) personnel, WSU Entomologist Gary
Piper, as well as representatives of County Extension, County
Weed Boards, State Weed Board, Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Reservation, National Forest, Washington Department
of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau
of Land Management, and private landowners in the Quad County
area.
Tyler Wilson
PRIORITIES OF THE BIOAGENT PROGRAM
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What are Noxious Weeds?
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Diffuse Knapweed
| Noxious weeds are non-native
plant species, most of which originated in Europe and Asia.
Many of these weeds were introduced to North America either
by accident, possibly as contaminants of crop seed, or deliberately,
perhaps as ornamental plants. In their native ecosystems, these
plants do not pose a problem because they evolved with natural
controls such as insect predators, plant pathogens, fungi, other
competing plants, and grazing animals. Without those natural
controls in North America, these non-native plants overtake
the native plant communities here, decreasing biological diversity,
reducing forage for wildlife and livestock, increasing wind
and water erosion, and altering nutrient cycling.
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What is Biological Control?
Biological control is the intentional use of living organisms
to try to suppress the population of a pest to an acceptable
level. In this case, the pests we are attempting to suppress
are noxious weeds, and the living organisms that we use are
mostly insects. These insects are natural enemies of the targeted
weeds that come from the weeds' native ecosystems. Biological
agents are discovered and tested by the USDA Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) European Biological Control Laboratory
(EBCL). Insects are tested extensively to be specific to the
plant being targeted for biological control. The USDA attempts
to insure that certified biological agents will not attack
native vegetation or crops, but due to the uncertainties in
a biological world, there will always be risks involved. There
are numerous advantages of biological weed suppression. Biological
agents are host specific, self-perpetuating, possess the mobility
to spread into areas that are difficult to use other control
methods in, and may be an alternative to herbicide use in
sensitive areas, such as near waterways. The limitations of
biological control are that it is a long-term method for weed
management, biological agents may be site specific, may not
overwinter, and will not eradicate the weeds. Once insects
are introduced it must be seen if they will become established.
If the biological agent does establish, then it may take several
years (5-7) for the agent to reach a density where it will
have a noticeable impact on the weed. Biological agents will
not eradicate the weed population because they depend on the
weed for their life cycle. Insect species lay their eggs on
these weeds and progress through their development while feeding
on these weeds.
Cyphocleonus achates
Are You Interested in Having Biological
Agents Released on Your Property?
If you have a sizeable weed infestation on
your property, one acre or more, it may be possible to use
biological agents. Potential areas for bioagent release should
be free of vehicular traffic and insecticide use. The presence
of livestock is fine. If a release is made on your property,
we ask that representatives of the Quad County/Colville Reservation
Bioagent Project be allowed access to the site for approximately
seven years. It will be necessary to monitor the sites to
see if the insects are able to establish. If they do establish
and the population becomes high enough, then collections will
need to be made for further redistributions. If you are interested
in biocontrol for your property, click on the link below to
receive a form by mail. Please complete the form return it
to the WSU Ferry County Extension Office.
Please note: There are a variety of
biological agents available for a variety of non-native weeds,
and more are being tested. The availability of some agents
may be limited at this time due to recent certification for
their introduction into the United States. Some noxious weeds
commonly found throughout the area for which biological agents
are available are listed below. The following links below
contain short descriptions of a few biological agents that
have been redistributed in this area by the Quad County/Colville
Reservation Bioagent Project.
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Dan Fagerlie, WSU Ferry County Extension
Agent, releasing bioagents for Yellow Starthistle.
Request Form
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Click on a
link below to find out more about bioagents for these noxious
weeds:
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Diffuse
Knapweed
Spotted
Knapweed
Yellow
Starthistle
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Canada
Thistle
Plumeless Thistle
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Yellow
Toadflax
Purple
Loosestrife
Rush
Skeletonweed
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