MONITORING & MANAGEMENT
European Frog-bit Management
Management of European frog-bit is essential to mitigate harm and ensure this aquatic invasive species does not continue to spread throughout the Great Lakes ecosystem. The European Frog-bit Collaborative has developed resources to aid managers including summarizing information on current management techniques.
Management Techniques
Hand-Pulling
Removal of European Frog-bit by hand can be augmented by using small handheld rakes. Hand removal is generally used for smaller known populations and is labor intensive. Handing pulling is most effective in early spring to summer before the plant has had time to grow significantly.
Mechanical Removal
European Frog-bit can be removed mechanically, typically with large equipment like a harvester.
Herbicide
Several different herbicides with varying modes and speeds of action have been used to treat European Frog-bit. Herbicides that have been used to chemically treat EFB include:
- Diquat
- Flumioxazin
- Endothall
Shading
Covering a patch of European Frog-bit with a shade cloth can be effective at inhibiting growth and spread. By blocking essential light penetration the plant can no longer germinate and/or grow.
Biocontrol
While various insects, mollusks, rodents, birds and fish can feed on European Frog-bit, the approval process for release any of these organisms for EFB management has not yet occurred United States or Canada.
European Frog-bit Before-and-After Treatment Tracker (Frog-BATT)
What is Frog-BATT?
The Frog-BATT (European Frog-bit Before-and-After Treatment Tracker) app allows you to monitor before and after managing EFB, and also submit treatment information. This data will be used to determine which techniques are working to reduce EFB infestations across the Great Lakes basin. It is designed so that data gathered from both treatment and untreated control areas can be used to determine potential treatment impacts to EFB and non-target aquatic plants species, identify control techniques and strategies that need further investigation, provide preliminary data on EFB distribution, reproductive biology and phenology, and habitat requirements, and summarize where, by whom, and how EFB is being managed on the local, state, and basin-wide scales.
How to access Frog-BATT
Frog-BATT is currently in beta testing and can be accessed at the EFB’s Esri Hub site: hub.efbcollaborative.net.
Proper disposal methods
When physically removing EFB, be sure to properly dispose of removed plants. Locate and contact your relevant local, state, or provincial invasive species management organization using this Invasive Species Management Areas Lookup Tool to assist you in understanding proper EFB disposal methods.
Resources & Publications
Twitter Image: Protect Habitat
European Frog-bit Collaborative
Twitter Image: Preserve Habitat
European Frog-bit Collaborative
Standard Treatment Impact Monitoring Protocol
European Frog-bit Collaborative