Noxious
WeedsA major threat to the rangeland ecosystems is the unintentional invasion
of aggressive "noxious" weeds brought by settlers to North America.
Some of the main noxious weeds of concern for the Kamloops district include:
- Diffuse, Spotted & Russian knapweed.
- Houndstongue
- Sulphur
cinquefoil
- Leafy spurge
- Toadflax
- Oxeye Daisy
- Rush
Skeletonweed: has been discovered nearby in the Okanagan.
- St. John's
Wort
- Tansy
Please report sightings in previously uninfested
locations Noxious weed control activities: Much
time, effort and money now goes into biological control, to locate, screen, propagate
and release insects, that are the ‘natural enemy’of these plants in
their homelands. The Kamloops Forest District actively releases and monitors biological
control insects as they become available. Currently biological control insects
have been released for the following main weeds of concern: Knapweed (15 species);
Leafy Spurge (4 species) and Toadflax (7 species). Agents are currently being
screened for Houndstongue and Sulfur Cinquefoil. Other Kamloops Forest District
weed control methods include: herbicides, handpulling, and most importantly, prevention:
through education, extension of information, grass seeding of disturbed sites/exposed
soil, appropriate management of resource uses (such as livestock grazing, recreation,
timber harvesting, road building, utility right of ways etc.), and co-ordination
between these users. Noxious Weed Update: - Toadflax:
new biological control insect : a new insect has been propogated
and released on a many sites with successful survival. This bug is called 'Mecinus
janthinus' and is a small black weevil that produces larvae in July which feed
on the inside of the shoot. Stems generally swell and crack with the developing
larvae inside, and the stem portion above the larvae often dies. Adults overwinter
in their pupal cells in the stem. Adult weevils can be observed on plant material
from May until July.
- Houndstongue: Promising Root Weevil It took
9 years of screening to obtain approval for release of Mogulones cruciger for
hound's-tongue. Mogulones cruciger gets the last part of its scientific name from
the white cross on its back. Beyond this, the weevil is rather nondescript. It
is approximately 2-3 mm in diameter, round in shape, and dull brown with the white
markings. The adults emerge in spring to mate and lay eggs on houndstongue rosettes
and this is the best time for collection. After the eggs hatch, the larvae tunnel
into the roots of their host plants where they can cause a lot of damage. Attacked
plants are stressed, which reduces their survival and/or seed production.
What
can you do? - Learn to recognize the noxious weed species.
- When travelling in B.C's rangelands, stay on established roads. Do not
drive across the grasslands.
- If involved in any activity such as logging
or road construction which disturbs the top soil layer, ensure that the disturbed
area is reseeded immediately.
- Check your vehicle and remove attached
noxious weeds, in particular knapweed, before leaving an infested area. Check
your clothes and pets, to remove Houndstongue burs.
- Report weed sightings
in remote areas to the Forest District office.
- Pull up isolated noxious
weed plants and remove them from the area, for deep burial.
- Don't purchase
noxious weed-infested hay.
- Provide public support for the government
funding of noxious weed control programs.
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