Spotted Knapweed

[furholler]

To read an informative article on this noxious weed, click on my blog link below. Thanks.

[qwerty]

Here in Montana where I'm located some bee keepers set their hives out for knapweed honey while others say that it looks like purple mountains majesty. I use the goats and sheep also pull by hand (with gloves) , mow, weed eat and flood irrigate. They don't seem to like their roots to stand in water and besides they are easier to pull when they soil is wet. There is also a knapweed beetle ,two kinds I believe ,one that attacks the flower and the other the roots. This is the second year that I've used them and they seem to be doing their job. At least the little buggers are multiplying so they seem to be enjoying themselves. If you don't like poisons you might look into them.

[furholler]

Originally Posted by qwerty

Here in Montana where I'm located some bee keepers set their hives out for knapweed honey while others say that it looks like purple mountains majesty. I use the goats and sheep also pull by hand (with gloves) , mow, weed eat and flood irrigate. They don't seem to like their roots to stand in water and besides they are easier to pull when they soil is wet. There is also a knapweed beetle ,two kinds I believe ,one that attacks the flower and the other the roots. This is the second year that I've used them and they seem to be doing their job. At least the little buggers are multiplying so they seem to be enjoying themselves. If you don't like poisons you might look into them.

Are the critters harmful to anything else? In other words, would they turn out like the Japanese Beetle?

[LisaInN.Idaho]

My sheep can eat it with no problem, but it's toxic to horses.

[qwerty]

Not sure if the beetles would overrun everything or not. We have been wondering that ourselves but Montana seems to think that this is the way to go. Some of the school kids catch and sell them. I'll see if I can find out more for you. I have only found them on the knapweed though.