SALT CEDAR BEETLES: A tiny beetle may be the solution to a 
huge problem. Find out more on Passport to Texas.

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife 

So, there's the beetles ... and there's some egg sacks in there.:04

That's Mike Janis, a natural resource specialist at the 
Matador WMA in the Texas Panhandle, opening a 
container of 200 salt cedar leaf beetles from the USDA. In 
early June, researchers released one-third of the insects 
at Matador, hoping they will multiply and devour 
troublesome salt cedar trees -- a water-thirsty non-native 
that's overtaken about half of a million acres in Texas. 

The salt cedar was introduced to the U.S. in 19th century to 
control riverbank erosion. But, Chip Ruthven, leader of the 
project, says the cedars became a problem in themselves. 

It forms dense thickets and out-competes native plants, which are 
generally highly beneficial to wildlife from a food and a cover 
standpoint. Then they're also heavy water users as well. :15

Jerry Michels is a research professor at the Texas AgriLife 
Extension. His team has been trying to establish a beetle 
population in the panhandle near Meredith Lake.

We're hoping, we're optimistic that this summer might be the year 
that they really explode up here. :05

Researchers don't expect problems with beetles 
destroying other plant communities because they're picky 
eaters. They only eat salt cedars. The beetles seem to be a 
cheap, effective tool to keep salt cedars in check, but 
Michels says beetles alone won't terminate the trees. 

I think that salt cedar control if it is going to be effective is going to 
have to be a combination of different techniques. :06

Such as herbicides and bulldozing. That's our show ... with 
research and writing help from Gretchen Mahan. For 
Texas Parks and Wildlife I'm Cecilia Nasti.

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