In 2022, Wild Rivers Conservancy was granted funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for the implementation of the Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol project. One of the goals of this two to three year long project is to reduce the impact and spread of the invasive aquatic plant purple loosestrife by recruiting dedicated volunteers to raise Galerucella beetles for release. Galerucella beetles are a genus of beetles native to Eurasia that are known to consume only purple loosestrife. These beetles feed on the leaves and shoots of purple loosestrife and decrease their seed output. By helping to raise and release Galerucella beetles, volunteers are actively contributing towards a healthy watershed rich in native plant diversity.

To help facilitate this effort, Wild Rivers Conservancy is creating a group of volunteers comprised of Minnesota residents in eligible counties and townships with the capacity to support rearing beetles, guided by the staff at the Conservancy.

In 2024, 20 volunteers dedicated 208 hours to raising and releasing over 7,000 beetles across eight high-priority sites throughout the St. Croix River watershed in Minnesota. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.

To see if you are eligible to participate, please complete the provided application on this page by Monday, March 1t7h. If you are selected, you will hear from our staff by March 21nd.

Purple loosestrife is an invasive wetland plant native to Europe and Asia that is known for its bright purple flowers. Despite its beauty, purple loosestrife is known to have drastic negative effects on its surroundings by out-competing native vegetation and decreasing native habitat. One single purple loosestrife plant can produce over a million seeds, and can therefore turn a wetland once rich in plant diversity into a sea of only purple.

Galerucella is a genus of beetle native to Eurasia that is known to consume only purple loosestrife. Because of this ability and the fact that the beetles cause no threat to native plants in North America, two species of Galerucella beetle have been used as a biological control to diminish the damaging effects of purple loosestrife in Minnesota and Wisconsin since the mid to late 90’s.

Wild Rivers Conservancy is looking for committed volunteers to help raise Galerucella beetles for release. Starting in May, volunteers will receive a kit with everything needed to properly raise Galerucella beetles, including purple loosestrife plants, netting, and of course, beetles! Plants will require watering once a week, and a weekly plant evaluation form must be filled out. As the purple loosestrife plants grow, so do the number of beetles in the enclosure, and by the end of the summer, the beetles will be ready for release!

To see if you are eligible to contribute your time and resources to this effort, please complete the application at the bottom of this page by March 17, 2025. Upon review, eligible volunteers will be notified by March 21, 2025.

Once selected, you will be required to attend a training session to learn more about the volunteer expectations and to pick up the supplies you will need.

After completing the rearing setup, you will need to be able to tend to the plants and provide a once-per-week status update on the health of the plants and beetles. Later in the summer between July to August, the release of your beetles will be coordinated with Conservancy staff.