Agriculture Canada Releases European Moth to Eat Invasive Vines

Agriculture Canada Releases European Moth to Eat Invasive Vines

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Agriculture Canada said it has approved the release of a European moth to eat invasive vines. The first group of moths have been released near Ottawa. About 500 insects have been discharged, which are supposed to eat ‘dog-strangling vine,’ an invasive weed from Europe.

The invasive species has taken over gardens and pasture land in North America. The vine is also toxic to livestock, which leaves the vine to spread further. The Hypena month is native to Ukraine and was tested in Switzerland and Rhode Island to see the impact it could have on our native plants and agricultural crops.

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not yet approved the release of the Hypena moth, it will likely spread there since they have been released in Canada. Scientists say it is unlikely that anything will go wrong with releasing the moth.