Purple loosestrife is highly aggressive, displacing native wetland vegetation and disrupting ecosystems. It is hoped that the release of these beetles will prevent or dramatically slow more widespread infestations across Aotearoa.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2024/05/07/new-biocontrol-beetles-for-aggressive-wetland-weed-expert-reaction/