We’ve all heard the idiom, “The early bird gets the worm.” When it comes to invasive jumping worms, unfortunately, there are more than enough to go around. These invasive worms can consume excessive amounts of organic matter and leaf litter in a garden or forest, to the point that it becomes uninhabitable to native plants and wildlife. This may sound crazy – and some have aptly named these jumpers “crazy worms” – so let’s back up. [Read more…] about Invasive Jumping ‘Crazy Worms’
Invasive Species
$13M DEC & Adirondack Watershed Institute Invasive Species Plan
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced a $13.24-million, five-year partnership with the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) of Paul Smith’s College to administer the Adirondack Park Watercraft Inspection Steward Program (WISP). The announcement, made during Adirondack Day at the New York State Capitol, is expected to protect the Adirondack Park’s resources from the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) that damage ecosystems. [Read more…] about $13M DEC & Adirondack Watershed Institute Invasive Species Plan
Weeds of the Northeast
A second edition of Weeds of the Northeast (Cornell University Press, 2023) by Joseph C. Neal, Richard H. Uva, Joseph M. DiTomaso and Antonio DiTommaso has been published. It’s a comprehensive reference book for those aspects of weed biology and ecology important to weed management. [Read more…] about Weeds of the Northeast
Inspect Your Trees for Beech Leaf Disease This Spring
Trees are blooming again in New York so now is the perfect time to keep your eyes peeled for beech tree leaf disease symptoms. [Read more…] about Inspect Your Trees for Beech Leaf Disease This Spring
Long Island Pine Barrens Southern Pine Beetle Control
Crews from DEC Lands & Forests and the Central Pine Barrens Commission worked last month in the Long Island Central Pine Barrens to prevent the spread of southern pine beetle. Southern pine beetle (SPB) is a bark beetle that infests pine trees, killing a tree within 2-4 months. Since SPB was first found in Long Island in 2014, DEC has been managing the Central Pine Barrens using forest thinning and prescribed fire. [Read more…] about Long Island Pine Barrens Southern Pine Beetle Control
New Field Guides to Adirondack Invasive Species
Two organizations that work to protect Adirondack lands and waters from environmental and economic harm caused by invasive species —The Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) and the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) — have released a pair of free complementary guides on invasive species in the Adirondacks. [Read more…] about New Field Guides to Adirondack Invasive Species
Winter Cold Snaps Help Control Hemlock Wooly Adelgid
Native to Asia, the hemlock woolly adelgid, or HWA, is an invasive, aphid-like insect that attacks North American hemlocks. Juvenile HWA, known as crawlers, search for suitable sites on the host tree, usually at the base of the needles. [Read more…] about Winter Cold Snaps Help Control Hemlock Wooly Adelgid
April is New York Native Plant Month
The 23 Garden Club of America member clubs in the state of New York have announced the official designation of April 2023 as “New York Native Plant Month.” A signed proclamation by Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to follow by April 18th, 2023.
The GCA has led this effort across all 50 states and Washington, DC to increase awareness of the critical role native plants play in supporting a healthy environment, thriving wildlife and pollinator populations, reducing use of pesticides and fertilizers, cleaning air and water and so much more. [Read more…] about April is New York Native Plant Month
Report: National Forests Threatened By Poor Wildlife Management, Invasives
Most forests in eastern United States national parks are at risk due to browsing by overabundant white-tailed deer and crowding by invasive plants, according to a National Park Service (NPS) study published in the journal Ecological Applications. [Read more…] about Report: National Forests Threatened By Poor Wildlife Management, Invasives
How Do New York’s Pests & Diseases Survive Winter?
I can’t help but think about the forest pests and diseases that I work with, and how they fare in winter weather.
We know that monarch butterflies migrate to avoid our cold winters, but what about the insects that stay put? Many of our forests pests and diseases have adaptations and strategies to survive the cold. [Read more…] about How Do New York’s Pests & Diseases Survive Winter?