Critters unleashed in NJ

[imkms]

Officials in New Jersey have unleashed thousands of weevils to devour the so-called mile-a-minute vine weed that's been flourishing since Superstorm Sandy.
The tiny bugs only eat the mile-a-minute weed.
The weed, which thrives on sunshine and moist soil and can grow up to 6 inches a day, has been spreading throughout Watchung Reservation since Sandy downed shade trees.
The weed also gained strength from a wet summer.
New York City officials recently announced plans to do the same in the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
Union County Parks and Community Renewal environmental specialist Betty Ann Kelly tells The Star-Ledger of Newark the reservation's trails may need more than 2,000 weevils to keep the weed in check.
Officials say the 2,000 bugs that have been released are expected to multiply over the next two years, battling the weed as it advances.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/53061038/ns/local_news-philadelphia_pa/

 

[46er]

Things like this always grow another gray hair or two for me.

 

[Arey]

Parts of the Forsyth Refuge are infested with this. In the same general area of Atlantic Co. you can also find uncontrolled growths of Wisteria, Autumn Clematis, and Bamboo. I have several shrubs in my yard which the Audubon Society and National Wildlife Federation say are undesirable and invasive. The thing is I planted them over 30 years ago when they were being promoted by the same organizations as desirable plants for a backyard wildlife habitat. Years ago Black Pines were considered just the thing for planting in the dunes to help strengthen the dunes.This year the city removed some Black pines, which are now considered undesirable plants for the dunes, so , of course, there were people protesting the removal of Black Pines. Every year people demand that the city remove bayberry bushes because they attract Tree Swallows which crap on their cars and in their swimming pools. I personally would prefer that the city remove their swimming pools, cars, and the condos they only live in for three months out of the year.

 

[geezerfinneran]

Every year people demand that the city remove bayberry bushes because they attract Tree Swallows which crap on their cars and in their swimming pools. I personally would prefer that the city remove their swimming pools, cars, and the condos they only live in for three months out of the year.

But---but you don't understand !
These are important people !!
(Well, that's what they claim.)

 

[GermanG]

Bayberry attracts tree swallows? Their diet consists of mostly insects and other small animal life. That's not surprising however. The people who complain the most about nature usually know the least about it.

 

[46er]

Bayberry attracts tree swallows? Their diet consists of mostly insects and other small animal life.

Actually yes, especially during their fall migration and winter. Wax Myrtle too; both are important food sources for those times of year. Cape May Meadows is a great place to watch them chowing down over the next couple months.

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/v...rry&b=&fr=ie8#search="tree swallows bayberry"

 

[GermanG]

I wasn't aware of that. Learn something new every day.

 

[Tgeorge]

I wish they would come up with a solution to bindweed. Its destroyed one of my flower beds up north.

 

[Sue Gremlin]

The weevil thing makes me incredibly uncomfortable. This seems like such a bad idea for a lot of reasons. Has anyone heard anything about them?