Harmfulness of giant Heracleum hogweed and methods of their control

Goal. Analysis and generalization of domestic and foreign experience on the invasion and harmfulness of giant hogweeds, including Sosnowski’s heracleum Sosnowskyi Mandenova to disseminate scientifically sound information on practical methods of control and prevention of further spread of giant hogweed, promoting biological conservation. Methods. System-analytical, abstract-logical, empirical. Results. According to research, scientists have predicted that the penetration of alien species into new territories is constant. However, more and more these processes are intensified under the influence of human activity. A clear example of this is the situation with giant hogweed. Imported into Western Europe in the XIX century as an ornamental plant Borage Mantegazzi today poses a real threat to the ecosystems of almost all countries of the European continent. The seeds of the London population of Persian borage were sown in 1836 by English gardeners in northern Norway, from where it quickly spread throughout the Scandinavian countries. In the former USSR in the postwar years, Sosnowski’s hogweed was actively studied and implemented, which has now become widespread in the natural ecosystems of the CIS countries and Ukraine in particular. Conclusions. According to research, scientists have predicted that giant hogweed poses a great danger and threatens the natural ecosystems of our country and the West, control of Mantegazzi hogweed will be much more difficult and costly than with Sosnowski hogweed. For this reason, it is essential to take preventive measures to locate and remove plants of very dangerous invasive species and other species with a polycarpic cycle of development, as well as to prevent their widespread spread.