What will the beetles eat when the purple loosestrife is gone?
Because they survive exclusively on purple loosestrife the number of the beetles in any area is expected to rise and fall based on the amount of loosestrife present. As the plant becomes less common, the beetles will have a harder time finding food, they will produce fewer offspring, and as a consequence, their population will decline. Experts believe that these natural enemies cannot eliminate purple loosestrife but they can severely reduce its density. Once established, the beetles will continue to control loosestrife on a permanent basis.
