BISMARCK — Field days have been scheduled at six North Dakota sites to collect and redistribute flea beetles that eat leafy spurge.
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said persons interested in acquiring the flea beetles to release on their own property can collect them from established populations at the field day sites.
“Leafy spurge continues to be one of North Dakota’s worst noxious weeds,” Goehring said. “Using the flea beetles for biological control, as part of an integrated pest management plan, has proven to be an effective tool in combatting leafy spurge infestations.”
The field days are scheduled as follows:
- 11 a.m. CT, Wednesday, June 21 – Stutsman County – 1508 4th St. NW, Jamestown.
- 10 a.m. MT, Thursday, June 22 – Grant County – Lake Tschida Boy Scout Camp.
- 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. MT, Tuesday, June 27 – Billings County – Wannagan Creek Road north of Medora.
- 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. MT, Thursday, June 29 – Billings County – Franks Creek Road north of Fryburg.
- Noon CT, Thursday, June 29 – Benson County – Directions: ½ Mile East of the Pleasant Lake Rest area along U.S. Highway 2. Turn south onto gravel road for 100 feet. Terrain is hilly, so plan to do some walking to collect. Contact Jerry at the Dept. of Trust Lands at 701-328-2800 or jsaude@nd.gov, or the Benson County Weed Officer 740-0801
- 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. MT, Wednesday, July 5 – Billings County – Wannagan Creek Road north of Medora.
- 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. MT, Thursday, July 6 – Billings County – Franks Creek Road north of Fryburg.
All attendees are asked to help collect and all beetles collected are distributed evenly.
Attendees should bring a cooler with ice packs to transport the flea beetles, and are asked to bring sweep nets if they have them.
More information and specific directions to field day sites are available from Lane Kozel at (701) 328-2250.
The field days are co-hosted by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands, and the weed boards of Stark, Stutsman, Grant, Billings and Benson counties.
— North Dakota Department of Agriculture
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