Bio-control is a viable option for dealing with some noxious weeds that have grown out of control. If the infestation is still small or just getting started, bio-control is not the best solution.

Colorado Department of Agriculture sponsors the Colorado Insectary in Palisade, Colorado. At the Insectary they are conducting research to find organisms to help in the control of specific noxious weeds and troublesome insects. The website for the Insectary is: http://www.ag.state.co.us/CSD/Insectary/Index.html. On these pages they discuss the bio-control agents that are available for the different weed species. Their contact/order form is also available.

In Weld County, we are actively pursuing a bio-control program. The field bindweed mites are showing great promise. We have released them for two years in Weld County and plan to start distributing from these release sites in 2006. The leafy spurge flea beetle has not been successful on the river bottom land in Weld County so far. However, we are not giving up hope and will continue to work to find a solution. In 2006, there will be some diffuse knapweed bio-control releases. This will be a test to see if the insects will be able to establish on the river bottom and work to control diffuse knapweed.

If there are any bio-control agents that you would like to try, please contact the Weed Division office at 970-304-6496 ext. 3770. This way we can work together on implementing a bio-control program in the County.