The Illinois Natural History Survey has developed educational
materials focusing on
BIODIVERSITY, WETLANDS and BIOLOGICAL CONTROL. Incorporated into
these materials is a case study of purple loosestrife, an exotic
weed of wetlands in Illinois, that is the target of an ongoing
biological control program. Funding for the development of educational
materials was provided by a grant from Chicago Wilderness.
Ms. Roche and five of her students at Schurz High School in Chicago. Ms Roche is holding a carton of Galerucella that will be released on the purple loosestrife plants grown in their classroom.
In the above photo a class from Amundsen High School carries cages with emerging beetles to a release site at Skokie Lagoons in northern Cook Co., Illinois. This site was chosen in cooperation with Wayne van der Ploeg of the Cook Co. Forest Preserve District. Education and outreach persons from the various counties and agencies work with the schools to locate release sites and provide permits as necessary.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is funding this program
for the 1998-1999 school
year. Fifty
educators participated in two all-day workshops held in January.
Each participant received a complete kit of materials needed for
all the exercises and beetle rearing. A list of the educators
participating this year is provided below.
We are hoping to continue this program through the 1999 - 2000 school year. If you are a middle or high school teacher in the greater Chicago area and would like to participate in this program or if you want further information on the educational materials you may contact any of the following:
David Voegtlin, Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody,
Champaign, Illinois
61820-6970. e-mail:dvoegtli@uiuc.edu
Robert Wiedenmann, Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E.
Peabody, Champaign,
Illinois 61820-6970. e-mail:rwieden@mail.inhs.uiuc.edu
Michael Jeffords, Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody,
Champaign, Illinois
61820-6970. e-mail: jeffords@staff.uiuc.edu
Return to Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife main page
This page maintained by David Voegtlin. Last updated 30 June 1999