Leafy Spurge Weed

• Decreased use of herbicides
• eliminate infestations

Methods

• use of weed predators, especially Aphthona flea beetle
• grazing
• revegetation
• tillage
• burning and clipping
• decision aids
• GIS/GPS
• weed pathogens
• and judicious use of herbicides

Extent of Implementation
Fiscal Years 1997-2001

• Implemented across the four state area of Montana, Navada, South Dakota and Wyoming.
• Covers the entire Little Missouri River drainage region.

Results to Date

• Where Aphthona species have become established the insects wiped out leafy spurge and areas often remain spurge-free.
• The flea beetles may take a while but it appears to be a permanent, long term and low-cost solution.
• In 1999, at a "Spurgefest" field day in Medora, North Dakota, 20 million Aphthona flea beetles were given to ranchers and land managers for use.