PART IV: Release
After about a month since release into the nets, the 20 insects have gone through a life cycle and have created between 100 to 400 new insects ready for release at a wild infestation site. The end of this year's project was the release of nearly 20,000 insects on five sites throughout Nebraska. The sites were Girls & Boys Town, Jefferey Island (Lexington, NE), a site in Boyd Co., Missouri River in Dixon Co., and the Platte River in Western Douglas Co.
New insects ready for release. (07/02/2002)
Insect host plants ready for release. (07/02/2002)
Sarpy Co. Weed Supt. Marty Hein aids in releasing insects on the Girls and Boys Town Wildlife Habitat Area. (07/10/2002)
Releasing the insects was done by removing the netting, taking the plants out of their container, and then leaving the plant and insects around the edge of the infestation. This one was taken at the Girls and Boys Town site.
Sarpy Co. Supt. Marty Hein and Saunders Co. Supt. Ed Sladky aid with the release at the Platte River in western Douglas County.
Saunders Co. Supt. Ed Sladky releasing insects at the Platte River site.
Jefferey Island site near Lexington, Nebraska. This site is part of NPPD's restoration project along the Platte River.
Jefferey Island site. Shortly after the release, a conference tour visited the site to the release.
Missouri River site in Dixon County.
Missouri River site in Dixon County. Most of this area is inaccessible to equipment.
Preferred way to travel to the Missouri River sites in Dixon County.
Site at Girls and Boys Town 3 weeks after release.
You can see damage on plants from insects by the holes in the leaves. The insects at this site may propagate one more time before the end of the plant's season.