June 22, 2017 – Great Lakes Commission
As we previously reported, a scale insect has been preying on multiple genetic types of Phragmites in coastal Louisiana. This week Fish and Wildlife Service staff observed the insect on Phragmites stalks in the city of Pas Christian, Mississippi. This is the first known occurrence of the insect in Mississippi.
On the Gulf Coast, Phragmites (a.k.a. Roseau cane) is an important shoreline stabilization species and it has been severely impacted by the invasive insect. The non-native Great Lakes strain of Phragmites is present in Louisiana coastal marshes and is believed to affected by the insect.
Photo: USFWS