Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Sosnowsky's hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi) are highly invasive plants in Central Europe, Western Europe and North America. Their seeds are carry by waterways and birds.They are especially hard to eliminate at the stream and river banks often intertwined with trees/woody plants, where chemical agents can not be used without limitations. Also mechanical and physical methods of their removing may be hard to adapt there. Moreover, as containing the intense toxic allergen furanocoumarin they may be dangerous for people trying to remove it. (In 2015 there was noted first death case caused by this plant in Poland: 67 year old woman dead after minor skin burns caused by Sosnovsky's hoghweed.)
Do these plants possess any natural enemies which could be safely used to fight them?
Are there any other innovative (physical) means (excluding chemicals) useful there?
In the case of highly invasive species such Giant hog-weed, eradication is possible if the invader is controlled at a very early stage of the invasion. this is because, these invasive species have inherent advantages that enable them out-compete the native species.
I did a related study on Psidium guajava, the most successful invasive species in Kakamega forest. Lucky enough, for us , we were able to find a natural enemy, a native plant known as Markhamia lutea, which is capable of out-competing it by smothering its seedlings.
For the case of Giant hog-weed, in the absence of a known natural enemy, I would propose physical elimination through burning. Burning is good especially in destruction of the plant and its seeds thus lowering its ability to regenerate in future.
I think eradication is best left to the professionals because it is too toxic! I think humans are the best natural enemy :-)
In the case of highly invasive species such Giant hog-weed, eradication is possible if the invader is controlled at a very early stage of the invasion. this is because, these invasive species have inherent advantages that enable them out-compete the native species.
I did a related study on Psidium guajava, the most successful invasive species in Kakamega forest. Lucky enough, for us , we were able to find a natural enemy, a native plant known as Markhamia lutea, which is capable of out-competing it by smothering its seedlings.
For the case of Giant hog-weed, in the absence of a known natural enemy, I would propose physical elimination through burning. Burning is good especially in destruction of the plant and its seeds thus lowering its ability to regenerate in future.
Dear Ms. Motyka,
There are many questions to be asked before the answer is given for this mitigation/eradication... But, depending on the site conditions and ecological factors, maybe you could try with certain biological measures- expansionist species such as Humulus lupulus or Hedera helix on riparian sites, or even maybe Rubus spp. or Rhamnus spp.?
I can only assume if these species are native to your country, and some of these plants are known as invasive in certain countries. Concerning possible non-native species, riparian locations are favorable for other 'invasive' or 'expansionist' species like Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer negundo or Amorpha fruticosa. For sure, probably you are already aware of your national legal framework for invasive alien species or introduction to highly expansionist species on localities which can be vulnerable to invasion.
Nevertheless, as of my humble opinion, make check on the list of indigenous expansionist species rather than exotic ones, due to the risk of invasion not only in your region but nearby areas as well. Because in this case, completely by their nature, invasive alien plants do not recognize national borders in a broader view.
Thanks a lot Rashid Kawawa, dr McKenzie, dr Singh and dr Simovski for your kind response and all the valuable remarks, especially concerning natural enemies.
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