Last Updated on July 27, 2026 5:13 pm
The Town of Boone released more than 5,000 weevils onto the Boone Greenway Trail last Friday in an effort to combat the spread of Mile-a-Minute weed, an invasive plant that has taken hold along the trail.
Despite rainy weather, a crowd of volunteers turned out to help with the effort, and town officials thanked everyone who came out to support the removal of invasive species in Boone.
Mile-a-Minute weed can grow up to six inches a day, and its rapid spread crowds out native plants — in turn cutting off food sources for native wildlife and pollinators. The vine is identifiable by its triangle-shaped leaves and small barbs covering its stems, which the town says can injure people and animals trying to access nearby rivers.
The weevils released along the Greenway have been bred to feed exclusively on Mile-a-Minute weed, meaning they will spend their entire lives — “from birth to death,” as the town put it — targeting the invasive plant. Officials say releasing more than 5,000 of the insects should have a meaningful impact on slowing the weed's growth and spread.
The project was aided by Appalachian State University student Sophia Sizer, who the town credited with helping compile information, put together a presentation on the effort, and assist in releasing the weevils.
The town is encouraging residents to look for the tiny beetles on their next visit to the Greenway Trail, cheering them on as they work to stem the invasive weed's spread.
