Beetle eats salt cedar plague ( tamarisk )

Cortez Journal ^ | March 15, 2007 | SHANNON LIVICK

[george76]

Removing some of the asian tamarisks would dramaticaly increase water for other needs from California to Montana to Texas...

.

[george76]

[cripplecreek]

The problem arises when we find that the beetles prefer other native plants.

[decimon]

The problem arises when we find that the beetles prefer other native plants.

Probably eat corn.

[george76]

You are correct.

That is always a risk.

Apparently some ants also like to eat the beetles too.

[dynachrome]

"when we find that the beetles prefer other native plants."
Yup. Odds are they will like something like the fruit orchards or the melon plants.

[cripplecreek]

I just wish we could convinvce Japanese beetles to eat Purple loosestrife instead of my wisteria.

[george76]

"...controlling tamarisk is the single most cost-effective means to make more usable water available, cheaper than dams, wells, or storage..."

by Carry_Okie

[GSlob]

Well, they wanted to control erosion - and now they have to control tamarisk. It is a garden case of a short blanket paradigm. Either your nose, or your feet [or both] will be out. And even if you contort like Houdini, it will be of little help.

[george76]

It is estimated the tamarisk plant and Russian olive trees, both of which are nonnative species, occupy up to 1.6 million acres in the West...

“According to the Tamarisk Coalition, the western U.S. is probably losing anywhere from 2 to 4.5 million acre-feet of water per year,”...

A family of four uses about half an acre foot of water per year.

[uglybiker]

Nah. The real problem comes when one of those beetles goes off on its own and starts singing silly little love songs.

[george76]

From a wildlife point of view, the tamarisk has little value and is usually considered detrimental to native animals.

The leaves, twigs and seeds are extremely low in nutrients, and, as a result, very few insects or wildlife will use them.

In one study along the lower Colorado River, tamarisk stands supported less than 1% of the winter bird life that would be found in a native plant stand.

Because of the tamarisk's ability to eliminate competition and form single-species thickets, wildlife populations have dropped dramatically.

http://www.nps.gov/whsa/tamarisk.htm

[NonValueAdded]

What do they have to combat Brazilian Pepper trees?

[pandoraou812]

Colorado ping

[Sherman Logan]

It also does a dandy job of clogging canyons to where hiking is almost impossible.

[dynachrome]

"Russian olive trees"
I will be out killing stragglers for the 7th year in a row at the dynachrome mansion. Previous owners used them as an addition to the fence. (and then several years of neglect) I will say no one could climb over the fence without risking their lives!

[TigersEye]

It would be nice if it works. Most critters don't completely destroy their food supply though. Not to mention some plants grow more vigorously when grazed on.

[JRios1968]

[george76]

Hiking by us and wildlife is almost impossible.

[george76]

Russian olive trees are also brutal.

" No amnesty for the Illegals.."