|
|
Article: Bugs used against bothersome plants Strategically placed beetles expected to eat fast-growing loosestrife
- Article from:
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)
- Article date:
- July 16, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1996 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
Sharon Ehrhardt set aside her fear of insects long enough to help
four classmates gently place 1,000 small beetles onto the leaves of
a single purple loosestrife plant in a marsh along the Black River.
Ehrhardt, 48, and 18 other zoology students from the University
of Wisconsin Center-Sheboygan last week joined a growing band of
citizens releasing the brown bugs in wetlands across the state in an
attempt to stem the spread of the fast-growing European plant.
Standing in the middle of a 5-acre colony of loosestrife on the
west edge of Kohler-Andrae State Park, Ehrhardt plucked beetles out
of a jar and put them onto the plant.
"I just started the class, and I'm not fond of insects," the ...