Maine towns fight off invasive flowers as they encroach on popular swimming pond 10

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 13, 2026

In its native ecosystems across the Atlantic, loosestrife proliferates when a disturbance like a flood opens up new ground. But there, weevils eventually knock it back, a species that’s not present in Maine. Elsewhere in the U.S., the flowers have been controlled with the introduction of beetles that prey on it. Catching invasive plant populations early also helps get a handle on how quickly they spread and how common the plants can become. Seeds are easily carried by birds and can travel. The Maine Natural Areas Program produces a guide to identifying invasive species.