Beetle-rearing lab to combat invasive vine in Fla.

MIAMI (AP) — A beetle-rearing lab run by high school students may help combat an invasive plant species plaguing Florida parks and yards, researchers said Wednesday.

The beetles — called Lilioceris cheni or Lili — can help fight the herbaceous Air Potato twining vine that’s listed as one of Florida’s most invasive plant species and smothers native vegetation, officials said as they presented the lab run by students at TERRA Environmental Institute in Miami. The beetles set up at the lab will reproduce in order to be released into a South Florida park later this year.