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USDA approves release of weevil to control yellow starthistle

The USDA has announced it will allow the release of a weevil (Ceratapion basicorne) in the United States to help control yellow starthistle, an invasive weed found in 40 of the lower 48 states, reported Capital Public Radio. The weevils will initially be released in California.

Ceratapion basicorne is native to Eurasia, the same area where yellow starthistle originated. Yellow starthistle is thought to have been introduced into California from Chile during the Gold Rush. The weed readily took hold in California valleys and foothills, thriving in areas where the soil has been disturbed by animals grazing, road construction and wildland firebreaks. Today, yellow starthistle is a very common sight in vacant lots and fields, along roadsides and trails, in pastures and ranch lands, and in parks, open-space preserves and natural areas.

Capable of growing six feet tall and bearing flowers surrounded by inch-long spines, yellow starthistle reduces land value, prevents access to recreational areas, consumes groundwater and poisons horses.

Brad Hanson, UC Cooperative Extension weed specialist at UC Davis, says yellow starthistle thrives in part because of its prickly spines.

"It's not very palatable to any livestock, especially once it's started to flower . . . . Often times, the other grasses and more palatable plants are grazed and the starthistle persists and is sort of the only thing left,” he said.

Hanson says yellow starthistle can be managed on a small scale with chemicals, but that method just doesn't work with the scale of infestation in the state.

“It's difficult to control economically on the millions and millions of acres of rangelands or non agricultural lands that are sort of minimally managed,” he said.

The USDA's environmental assessment of the weevil found no significant impact of its release, besides helping to control yellow starthistle infestations.

A severe infestation of yellow starthistle in Calaveras County.
Posted on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 8:35 AM
Focus Area Tags: Natural Resources, Pest Management

Comments:

1.
When and where can private landowners find the weevils to release on our property??? My husband and I have battled Yellow starthistle for years here in Tuolumne County, and have noticed it's spread to many other areas in the county.  
I am more than willing to work with the county and state on this project.  
Thanks for all the research and help with this invasion.  
Cathy Calef  
Tuolumne County Master Gardener since 1990

Posted by Cathy on November 28, 2019 at 3:52 PM

2.
Please supply the company or companies that produce and supply this weevil. I would like to introduce them on my property.

Posted by Kirk Cochran on May 29, 2020 at 7:49 PM

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