Toadflax Biocontrol Field Notes

I use this space to document all field related activities for my PhD at Montana State University and activities related to the biological control of yellow and Dalmatian toadflax. This work is ongoing, and I will update this page with new material as it occurs.

Brief Project Background

Yellow (Linaria vulgaris) and Dalmatian (L. dalmatica) toadflax are invasive plants from Europe that have spread widely across rangelands in the western United States. They form dense patches that crowd out native vegetation, reduce forage for livestock and wildlife, and are difficult or costly to control with herbicides or mechanical methods. To address these challenges, researchers are exploring a range of strategies to limit their spread. My project focuses on biological control — using insects that naturally feed on toadflax — as a sustainable approach to long-term management.

I am currently working with three non-native weevil species: Mecinus janthinus, M. janthiniformis, and Rhinusa pilosa. The two Mecinus species attack toadflax by laying their eggs inside the stems; the developing larvae feed as they tunnel through the plant. Rhinusa pilosa works a little differently — it lays its eggs in the stem and triggers the plant to form a gall, a swollen growth that provides food and protection for the larvae.

Site Locations

Project Logs