Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T02:29:40.647Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Biology and Integrated Management of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) on North Dakota Rangeland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Rodney G. Lym
Rodney G. Lym*
Affiliation:
Plant Science Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Leafy spurge, a long-lived perennial, grows in many habitats, from floodplains to grasslands and mountain slopes. The plant emerges in early spring and produces showy, yellow bracts that appear in late May. The true flowers emerge in mid-June. The plant spreads by both seeds and roots and contains a white sticky latex that deters grazing by many animals. Dicamba, 2,4-D, glyphosate, and picloram have commonly been used to control leafy spurge. Picloram plus 2,4-D is frequently used for leafy spurge control in North Dakota. Ten insect species for leafy spurge biocontrol have been released in North Dakota; the most successful have been the flea beetles, Aphthona nigriscutis, A. czwalinae, and A. lacertosa. The leafy spurge gall midge (Spurgia esulae) has been most successful near wooded areas. Herbicides combined with either the leafy spurge flea beetles or gall midge have controlled leafy spurge better than either method used alone. Grazing with sheep or goats is a cost-effective method for controlling leafy spurge top growth in large infestations. Grazing combined with fall-applied picloram plus 2,4-D reduced leafy spurge density more rapidly and maintained control longer than either method used alone. Several grass species are competitive with leafy spurge including ‘Rebound’ smooth brome, ‘Rodan’ western wheatgrass, ‘Pryor’ slender wheatgrass, and ‘Manska’ pubescent wheatgrass. Cultivating twice each fall after harvest for 3 yr in cropland completely controlled leafy spurge. A successful long-term management program should be designed for specific situations and should include combinations of herbicides, insects, grazing, and/or seeding competitive species.

Keywords

2,4-D, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic aciddicamba, (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid)glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl)glycinepicloram, (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid)smooth brome, Bromus inermis Leyss. ‘Rebound'western wheatgrass, Pascopyrum smithii Rydb. ‘Rodan'slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus ssp. trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners ‘Pryor'pubescent wheatgrass Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski ‘Manska'leafy spurge gall midge, Spurgia esulaeleafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. #3 EPHESNoxious weedbiocontrolintegrated pest managementgrazingculturalchemicalEPHESMAT, months after treatment
Type
Symposium
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , June 1998 , pp. 367 - 373
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Alley, H. P., Humburg, N. E., Fornstrom, J. K., and Ferrell, M. 1984. Leafy spurge control with repetitive herbicide treatments. Res. Weed Sci., Wyo. Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. J. 192:90–93.Google Scholar
Bakke, A. L. 1936. Leafy Spurge, Euphorbia esula L. Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station Research Bull. 198. 38 p.Google Scholar
Bowes, G. C. and Thomas, A. G. 1978a. Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) control based on a population model. Proc. First Int. Rangeland Congr. 1:254–256.Google Scholar
Bowes, G. C. and Thomas, A. G. 1978b. Longevity of spurge seeds in soil following various control programs. J. Range Manage. 31:137–140.Google Scholar
Carlson, R. B. and Mundal, D. 1990. Introduction of insects for the biological control of leafy spurge in North Dakota. N. D. Farm Res. 47:7–8.Google Scholar
Dersheid, L. A., Wrage, L. J., and Arnold, W. E. 1985. Cultural control of leafy spurge. In Watson, A. K., ed. Leafy Spurge. Monogr. 3. Champaign, IL: Weed Science Society of America. pp. 57–64.Google Scholar
Dunn, P. H. 1979. The distribution of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and other weedy Euphorbia spp. in the United States. Weed Sci. 27:509–516.Google Scholar
Dunn, P. H. 1985. Origins of leafy spurge in North America. In Watson, A. K., ed. Leafy Spurge. Monogr. 3. Champaign, IL: Weed Science Society of America. pp. 7–13.Google Scholar
Hanson, H. C. and Rudd, V. E. 1933. Leafy Spurge Life History and Habits. North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Bull. 266. pp. 1–24.Google Scholar
Hanson, T. P. 1994. Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) Control, Using Angora Goats. . North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. 111 p.Google Scholar
Helgeson, E. A. and Longwell, J. H. 1942. Control of leafy spurge by sheep. N. D. Agric. Exp. Stn. Bimonthly Bull. 4:10–12.Google Scholar
Kirby, D. 1996. Biological control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) with flea beetles (Aphthona spp.). Abstr. Soc. Range Manage. 49:40.Google Scholar
Krockmal, A. 1952. Seeds of weedy Euphorbia species and their identification. Weeds 1:243–255.Google Scholar
Landgraf, B. K., Fay, P. K., and Havstad, K. M. 1984. Utilization of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) by sheep. Weed Sci. 32:348–352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lym, R. G. 1996. Leafy Spurge Control with Glyphosate Plus 2,4-Alternated with Picloram or Dicamba. Research Progress Report of the Western Society of Weed Science. p. 7.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. 1997. Imazameth for Leafy Spurge Control. Research Progress Report of the Western Society of Weed Science. p. 8.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G., Beck, K. G., Becker, R., Davis, E., Ferrell, M. A., Harris, J., and Masters, R. 1997a. Leafy Spurge Control with Quinclorac, a Regional Study. Research Progress Report of the Western Society of Weed Science. pp. 12–14.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Carlson, R. B. 1994. Effect of herbicide treatment on leafy spurge gall midge (Spurgia esulae) population. Weed Technol. 8:285–288.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G., Carlson, R. B., Messersmith, C. G., and Mundal, D. A. 1996. Integration of herbicides with flea beetles, Aphthona nigriscutis, for leafy spurge control. In Proceedings of the IX International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. pp. 480–481.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1982. Leafy spurge control under trees with various herbicides. Proc. N. Cent. Weed Control Conf. 39:66–67.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1985. Leafy spurge control with herbicides in North Dakota: 20-year summary. J. Range Manage. 38:149–154.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1987a. Carbohydrates in leafy spurge roots as influenced by environment. J. Range Manage. 40:139–144.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1987b. Leafy spurge control and herbicide residue from annual picloram and 2,4-D application. J. Range Manage. 40:194–198.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1988. Leafy spurge control under trees and along waterways. Res. Rep. N. Cent. Weed Control Conf. 45:86–87.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1990. Cost-effective long-term leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) control with herbicides. Weed Technol. 4:635–641.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1993. Fall cultivation and fertilization reduce winter hardiness of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). Weed Sci. 41:441–446.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Moxness, K. D. 1989. Absorption, translocation, and metabolism of picloram and 2,4-D in leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). Weed Sci. 37:498–502.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G., Sedivec, K. K., and Kirby, D. R. 1997b. Leafy spurge control with Angora goats and herbicides. J. Range Manage. 50:123–128.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Tober, D. A. 1997. Competitive grasses for leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) reduction. Weed Technol. 11:787–792.Google Scholar
Messersmith, C. G. and Lym, R. G. 1990. Leafy spurge control: 10 years of research enhancement. N. D. Farm Res. 47:3–6.Google Scholar
Messersmith, C. G., Lym, R. G., and Galitz, D. S. 1985. Biology of leafy spurge. In Watson, A. K., ed. Leafy Spurge. Monogr. 3. Champaign, IL: Weed Science Society of America. pp. 42–56.Google Scholar
Miller, S. D. and Nalewaja, J. D. 1985. Weed spectrum change and control in reduced-till wheat. N. D. Farm Res. 43:11–14.Google Scholar
Olsen, F. W. and Hansen, R. M. 1977. Food relations of wild free-roaming horses, livestock, and big game, Red Desert, Wyoming. J. Range Manage. 30:17–20.Google Scholar
Olson, B. E. and Lacey, J. R. 1994. Sheep: a method for controlling rangeland weeds. Sheep Res. J. Special issue. pp. 105–112.Google Scholar
Rees, N. E. 1994. The Aphthona pilot study. In Proceedings of the Leafy Spurge Symposium. Bozeman, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. 45 p.Google Scholar
Reilly, W. and Kaufman, K. R. 1979. The social and economic impacts of leafy spurge in Montana. In Proceedings of the Leafy Spurge Symposium. Fargo, ND: North Dakota Cooperative Extension Service. pp. 21–24.Google Scholar
Sedivec, K. K., Barker, W. T., and Prosser, C. W. 1995. Intensive grazing of angora goats on leafy spurge infested land. In Galitz, D. S., ed. Proceedings of the Leafy Spurge Symposium. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University. pp. 34–36.Google Scholar
Sedivec, K. K. and Maine, R. P. 1993. Angora goat grazing as a biological control for leafy spurge: a three year summary. In Beck, K. G., ed. Proceedings of the Leafy Spurge Symposium. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University. pp. 1–5.Google Scholar
Seip, E. H. and Hecker, E. 1982. Skin irritant ingenol esters from Euphorbia esula . J. Med. Plant Res. 46:215–218.Google Scholar
Selleck, G. W., Coupland, R. T., and Frankton, C. 1962. Leafy spurge in Saskatchewan. Ecol. Monogr. 32:1–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stroh, R. K., Leitch, J. A., and Bangsund, D. A. 1990. Leafy spurge patch expansion. N. D. Farm Res. 47:15–27.Google Scholar
Upadhyay, R. R., Bakhtavar, F., Ghaisarzadeh, M., and Tilabi, J. 1978. Cocarcinogenic and irritant factors of Euphorbia esula. 1. Latex. Tumori 64:99–102.Google Scholar
Walker, J. W., Kronberg, S. L., Al-Rowaily, S. L., and West, N. E. 1994. Comparison of sheep and goat preferences for leafy spurge. J. Range Manage. 47:429–434.Google Scholar
Whitson, T. D., Koch, D. W., Gade, A. E., and Ferrell, M. A. 1990. Control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) by the integration of herbicides and perennial grass species. Weed Sci. Soc. Am. Abstr. 30:31.Google Scholar
Wicks, G. A. and Derscheid, L. A. 1964. Leafy spurge seed maturation. Weeds 12:175–176.Google Scholar