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  • March 15th 2011 Issue

    • Weed-eating beetles

    The knapweed root weevil, Cyphocleonus achates, feeds on knapweed roots.   The lesser knapweed flower weevil, Larinus minutus, feeds on knapweed seed heads. The two insects that have been released to attack spotted knapweed are the root-feeding weevil Cyphlocleonus achates and the seedhead-feeding weevil Larinus minutus. According to Michigan State University entomologist Doug Landis, both have proven successful in achieving suppression of spotted knapweed in British Columbia, (Canada), Montana, Colorado, and, more recently, Minnesota and ­Wisconsin. These insects have been extensively tested for safety and have been approved for release in Michigan by theUSDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. […]

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    Picture of Richard Lehnert
    Richard Lehnert
    After growing up on a Michigan dairy farm, Richard Lehnert began writing about farming in 1962, while still a junior studying journalism at Michigan State University. He worked at newspapers for a year before joining the staff of Michigan Farmer, where he spent 26 years, the last 15 as chief editor. He was a member of the staff of Good Fruit Grower from 2010 until 2015. Read his stories: Story Index
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