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| Photo Courtesy University of Maryland Extension |
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| Photo Courtesy BugGuide |
Suppose there was a biological control for Purslane Weeds.... how wonderful would that be? Well, there is one – it is called a Purslane Moth. It has been found in Elbert and Pueblo Counties in Colorado but not a lot of information is currently available on this moth in the Denver Metro area.
I contacted Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, Emeritus Professor of entomology at Colorado State University and he said: "It looks like it is a native and present in SE Colorado. But I have never seen it" (in the Denver Metro area).
Look at this video of the Purslane caterpillar devouring the Purslane weed. Video is by Jennifer Spelman in Santa Fe, NM where the caterpillars/moths are more common.
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| Photo Courtesy BugGuide |
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| Photo Courtesy BugGuide |
Purslane Weeds (Portulaca oleracea) have 240,000 seeds on one plant per year. Prostrate growth habit, forming low mats less than 1 ft. tall; stems and leaves thick, succulent, light green to maroon on undersides and older portions. It reproduces by seed; flowers yellow, 5 petals at tips of stems; seeds germinate late May through early August. Weed of landscapes and newly seeded turf, vegetable, fruit, and agronomic crops as well as home landscapes; thrives in crevices between bricks and cracked cement, sandy, nutrient-poor, compacted soils, and drought; high light and warm growing conditions.
No wonder they are a problem. You definitely don’t want to let it go to seed if you can avoid doing so. Can't you imagine the Purslane Caterpillar happily munching on your Purslane weeds? I definitely can!
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