Galerucella Beetle

Description:

This is Galerucella, a non native species discovered on our Middle School campus. It was one of many feeding on Purple Loosestrife, an invasive species recently identified in our vernal pool area. It is still unclear how Galerucella arrived on campus and unsure as to what vector brought Lythrum salicaria to our campus. We are monitorng to see if the Galerucella population can keep the Loosestrife population in check. We are looking closely for the spread of invasive species and are constantly on the lookout for new ones. Students are also attempting to measure the overall biodiversity on campus by trying to identify species on campus from the plant, animal and fungi kingdoms.

Habitat:

Our middle school campus is surrounded by fragmented wooded areas, a temperate forest dominated by White Pine (Pinus strobus) and a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs. The campus also has a vernal pool that collects parking lot runoff and offers a unique habitat for a variety of species.