{"id":289,"date":"2023-05-11T12:47:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T16:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol-draft\/?page_id=289"},"modified":"2025-11-12T08:51:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T13:51:54","slug":"swallow-worts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/projects\/swallow-worts\/","title":{"rendered":"Swallow-Worts"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-menu-wrapper\"><nav id=\"\" class=\"cl-menu  \" data-name=\"Swallow-Worts\" data-show-title=\"0\"><ul id=\"menu-swallow-worts\" class=\"cl-menu-list cl-menu-list-no-js\"><li id=\"menu-item-495\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-495\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/projects\/swallow-worts\/\">Swallow-Worts<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-493\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-493\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/projects\/swallow-wort-posters\/\">Swallow-Wort Posters<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-494\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-494\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/projects\/release-of-hypena-opulenta\/\">Release of Hypena opulenta<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"fullwidth\">In North America, there are two species of invasive swallow-worts: black swallow-wort (<em>Vincetoxicum nigrum)<\/em>&nbsp;and pale swallow-wort (<em>V. rossicum)<\/em>. Both species have been recorded in 21 states extending east to west in the U.S. and as far north as Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Swallow-worts are native to Europe and therefore have no native herbivores in North America. The most common species in Rhode Island, black swallow-wort, was first recorded in North America as early as 1854 in Massachusetts. EDDMaps compiles data from across the United States and Canada, documenting the distribution of each species:&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eddmaps.org\/distribution\/uscounty.cfm?sub=3398\" target=\"_blank\"><em>V. nigrum<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eddmaps.org\/distribution\/uscounty.cfm?sub=4260\" target=\"_blank\"><em>V. rossicum<\/em>&nbsp;<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research has found swallow-wort to be harmful to monarch butterfly populations. Because swallow-wort chokes out native milkweed species, monarchs often lay their eggs on swallow-wort plants, itself a member of the milkweed family. Larvae cannot feed on swallow-wort and, subsequently, the caterpillars die which further reduces the already endangered monarch populations. To learn more about the impact swallow-wort has on monarch populations, read the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ecori.org\/2018-8-6-ukraine-moths-released-to-combat-invasive-swallow-worts\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ecori.org\/2018-8-6-ukraine-moths-released-to-combat-invasive-swallow-worts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EcoRINews article<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/wildflowers\/pollinators\/Monarch_Butterfly\/documents\/Swallow-wort_flyer_MJV.pdf\">Monarch Joint Venture\u2019s flyer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Advances have been made in terms of biological control of swallow-wort.&nbsp;<em>Hypena opulenta<\/em>&nbsp;is a moth species native to Europe whose larvae are regional herbivores of swallow-wort species. In August 2017, URI received a permit to release&nbsp;<em>H. opulenta&nbsp;<\/em>throughout Rhode Island and other parts of New England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The URI Biocontrol Lab works throughout the summer and fall to rear multiple generations of&nbsp;<em>H. opulenta. Hypena opulenta&nbsp;<\/em>was first released in Rhode Island in 2017 and the URI Biocontrol Lab has been releasing adults every summer since in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, and Connecticut. Releases are monitored for establishment of healthy populations, impact on near-by swallow-wort, and spread of population, with the eventual goal of establishing self-sustaining populations<em>.&nbsp;<\/em>Visit our \u201c<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/release-of-hypenaopulenta\/\" target=\"_blank\">Release of&nbsp;<em>H. opulenta<\/em><\/a>\u201d page to learn more about URI Biocontrol\u2019s efforts to combat invasive swallow-wort.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Documents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aphis.usda.gov\/plant_health\/ea\/downloads\/2017\/Hypena-opulenta-swallow-wort-biocontrol-EA-with-FONSI.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Field Release of Hypena opulenta for Biocontrol of Swallow-wort August 2017<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/swallowwortcollaborative.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/URI-Cooperative-Extension-2021_FactSheets-Swallow-Wort.pdf\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/swallowwortcollaborative.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/URI-Cooperative-Extension-2021_FactSheets-Swallow-Wort.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Swallow-wort Biocontrol Brochure<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/black-swallow-wort-posters\/\" target=\"_blank\">Swallow-wort Posters&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.eddmaps.org\/distribution\/uscounty.cfm?sub=4260\" target=\"_blank\"><em>V.&nbsp;<\/em>rossicum Distribution Map<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eddmaps.org\/distribution\/uscounty.cfm?sub=3398\" target=\"_blank\"><em>V.&nbsp;<\/em>nigrum Distribution Map<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Iw0C1wstJDQ&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;mc_cid=fdc09b4015&amp;mc_eid=cd9ab3a4b0&amp;app=desktop\" target=\"_blank\">NAISMA Classical Weed Biocontrol Summit, 2020<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/AvC8PoWE3ig?si=VFdS1Wv676jA9CaC&amp;t=5\">NAISMA Classical Weed Biocontrol Summit, 2021<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[289]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1437\" data-id=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-1536x862.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-2048x1150.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-364x204.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-1000x561.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-1280x719.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/Naushon-15-scaled-1-2000x1123.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fig. 1. Patch of swallow-wort found in CT, 2021<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w1.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[289]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"380\" height=\"523\" data-id=\"295\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w1.jpg 380w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w1-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w1-364x501.jpg 364w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fig. 2.&nbsp;<em>V. nigrum<\/em>&nbsp;leaf skeletonization.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w3.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[289]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"481\" height=\"351\" data-id=\"294\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w3.jpg 481w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w3-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w3-364x266.jpg 364w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 481px) 100vw, 481px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fig. 3.&nbsp;<em>H. opulenta<\/em>&nbsp;pupae.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w2.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[289]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"565\" height=\"424\" data-id=\"293\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w2.jpg 565w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w2-364x273.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w2-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fig. 4.&nbsp;<em>H. opulenta<\/em>&nbsp;larvae.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w4.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[289]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"399\" height=\"299\" data-id=\"292\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w4.jpg 399w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w4-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/w4-364x273.jpg 364w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fig. 5.&nbsp;<em>H. opulenta<\/em>&nbsp;adult.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/swallowwort-picture-1024x314-1.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[289]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"314\" data-id=\"291\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/swallowwort-picture-1024x314-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/swallowwort-picture-1024x314-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/swallowwort-picture-1024x314-1-300x92.jpg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/swallowwort-picture-1024x314-1-768x236.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/swallowwort-picture-1024x314-1-364x112.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/swallowwort-picture-1024x314-1-500x153.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2154\/swallowwort-picture-1024x314-1-1000x307.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fig. 6.&nbsp;<em>V. nigrum<\/em>&nbsp;seed pods (right) and flowers (left, middle).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In North America, there are two species of invasive swallow-worts: black swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)&nbsp;and pale swallow-wort (V. rossicum). Both species have been recorded in 21 states extending east to west in the U.S. and as far north as Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Swallow-worts are native to Europe and therefore have no native herbivores in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4711,"featured_media":0,"parent":17,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-289","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4711"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=289"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1374,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/289\/revisions\/1374"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/biocontrol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}