Invasive Species

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive pest from Asia that feeds on a variety of plants including grapes, hops, and maple trees. It poses a severe threat to New York’s forests and agriculture.

SLF has been found in several locations in New York State, but has not yet spread into much of the state. One potential pathway for the spread of SLF is its preferred host plant, tree-of-heaven, which is already found in many locations across NY. [Read more…] about Help Track Spotted Lanternfly: Claim a Grid Square to Survey

Asian longhorned beetles (ALB) are wood-boring beetles native to Asia that were accidentally introduced to the United States through wood-packing materials. These pests attack a variety of hardwoods, including maples, birches, and willows, among others, and have caused the death of hundreds of thousands of trees across the country.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is encouraging swimming pool owners to participate in DEC’s annual Asian Longhorned Beetle Swimming Pool Survey. During late summer, ALB emerge as adults and are active outside of their host tree. The goal of the survey is to locate infestations of these invasive pests before they cause serious damage to the State’s forests and street trees. [Read more…] about Pool Owners Sought for Citizen Science Survey

Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive pest that feeds on a variety of plants including grapes, hops, and maple trees, posing a severe threat to New York’s forests and agriculture.

SLF has been found in several locations in New York but has not yet spread to much of the state. One potential pathway for the spread of SLF is its preferred host plant, tree-of-heaven (TOH), which is already found in many locations across New York. [Read more…] about Help Track Spotted Lanternfly

Giant hogweed plants are now blooming across many parts of the state, making it a prime time to spot this harmful invasive species. Giant hogweed is a large plant with sap that can cause painful burns and scarring.

Adult giant hogweed plants tend to be 7-14 feet tall with umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers up to 2.5 feet wide. The stem is green with purple splotches and coarse white hairs, and leaves are large (up to 5 feet across), incised, and deeply lobed.  [Read more…] about Watch For and Report Giant Hogweed