Tuesday, November 25, 2008

New Images from Gyorgy Csoka from the Hungary Forest Research Institute - Forest Protection

We have some new images from one of our European cooperators. These are some absolutely beautiful images of various forest pests, may of which are exotic pests that we do not want to see here. Take a look at Gyorgy Csoka's new in images on Forestry Images!

Monday, November 24, 2008

New Images from Joy Viola

We've received some wonderfull images from Joy Viola that are now available. She and her husband Alfred have been traveling the world capturing images of animals and plants. In this latest set is a group that I particularly appreciated: Polar bears! I wonder if they are always this funny or if it is only when the photographers visit. Take a look at these and more on Joy Viola's photographer page

New Images from Pedro Tenorio-Lezama: Weeds of Mexico

We have just released a set of excellent images showcasing weedsand invasive plants of Mexico. These were sent to us by Heike Vibrans, Colegio de Postgraduados and were taken by his colleague Pedro Tenorio-Lezama. Take a look at these images wonderful Weeds of Mexico. You can also check out the Malezas de Mexico (Weeds of Mexico) site run by Heike Vibrans.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Diagnostician's Cookbook live on the Bugwood Wiki

A while a go, the idea was put forward to create a common online resource that Diagnosticians could use for psting media recipies, testing procedures, and other useful protocols. We've given a start to that project within the BugwoodWiki. Take a look at the beginning of this effort we've called the Diagnosticis's Cookbook.

The Bugwood wiki has 'permission only' authorship. If you would like to contribute to this resource as an author or just by submitting material, contact Joe LaForest.

Friday, November 21, 2008

New Images of Hosta Virus X

We have some new images from Alan Windham at University of Tennessee showing Hosta Virus X on many different cultivars. For those of you not familliar with this emerging disease, these do show the wide range of symptoms that can be found. Visit the Hosta Virus X subject page or take a look at these and others in Alan Windham's author profile page.

New Images by Elizabeth Bush at Virginia Tech

We have images from a new contributor, Elizabeth Bush at Virginia tech. She sent some very nice images covering everything from field shots of diseases to images of the microscopic spores. See her latest images on her author page.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Cool the Earth, Save the Economy

For those of you interested in global warming, there is a new online book that was written by one of our more prolific photographers and her husband. You can find "Cool the Earth, Save the Economy" by John & Mary Ellen Harte at their Cool the Earth website.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Highlight yourself as a photographer with the new "Author Profile Pages"

We've just added a new feature to IPM Images that will later be available on all of our image sites: Author Profile Pages. These pages give you a chance to let people know a little bet about you and/or your organization. Here are a few examples:

If you are a photographer and want to set up your own profile, go to our Author's Tools Page and use the "Edit profile" link.

As general rules:

  • Logos should be 75 pixels high
  • Author's Photos should be 150 pixels high
  • A written profile of around 120 words / 800 characters will usually fit with the Author Photo. Less is fine; More may begin to look odd.

Forest Service Fall Urban Projects Newsletter

See what has been happening in the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area Urban Programs. You can find the fall newsletter at their Urban & Community Forestry Website.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Bugwood is on Facebook

It seems that everyone is using the social networking sites for just about everything. Seems like a good idea...checkout our new group on Facebook!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Hilarious videos drive home point - "Don't Move Firewood!"

Getting people to understand the danger of moving firewood is difficult, especially since few people really appreciates "high and mighty preaching". The folks at Don't Move Firewood.org have come up with some informative and humorous advertisements to drive the point home. Take a look at their video section and enjoy!

"Invasive Plants of Grasslands" Conference February 21st in Madison, Wisconsin

February 21, 2009

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!

The Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin is pleased to announce that their 2009 conference will be held in conjunction with the annual Prairie Enthusiasts Banquet. Anyone who has an interest in grassland stewardship can't afford to miss these two exciting events! The "Invasive Species of Grasslands" conference will present intermediate- to advanced-level information on combating invasive plants of grasslands in the upper Midwest through on-the-ground initiatives, informed planning and monitoring, and advocacy. Information will be practical and directly applicable to the efforts of grassland managers. The annual Prairie Enthusiasts all-chapter Banquet will be held after the conference, and will be preceded by a social mixer. This is your chance to participate in the raffle and silent auction that are important sources of funding for the chapters. This also provides an opportunity to network and meet up with old friends.

We're also thrilled to announce a keynote presentation that will certainly fascinate conference participants and stimulate further discussion: Biofuel and Prairie Restoration. The presenters, Steve Bertjens (Southwest Badger RC&D) and Bill Johnson (Alliant Energy), will share their visions for a future where trees, brush, invasive plants and native grasses can be harvested from prairies and burned as cellulosic biomass, providing a renewable energy source for the Upper Midwest.

Conference attendees will be able to choose from 15 different sessions throughout the day. The three general topic `tracks' are:

Species-Specific Information. Learn to develop sound strategies for invasive plant management based on plant form (herbaceous versuswoody), life history (monocarpic versus perennial), and means of spread. Each session provides an overview of species, control strategies universal to the target life history form, and species-specific control measures. Just a few of the species to be covered: spotted knapweed, leafy spurge, and crown vetch.

Techniques, Equipment, Tools, Control Strategies. Learn how to get the job done on the ground by learning how to work with contractors, advanced strategies for managing invasive plants (bulk tree removal bids, managing exotic cool-season grasses, interseeding, avoiding Incidental Take), which tools and equipment are available and the best buy for your money, which herbicides to use and how to apply them, and how to create an invasive species management plan.

Policy, Funding, Outreach, Prevention Strategies. Learn how to help battle invasive species without getting dirty and sweaty by advocating for updated federal and state policies relating to invasive species (including the proposed state invasive species rule), by creating cooperative weed management areas, by promoting and adopting

sensible prevention strategies (adopting best-management practices, monitoring and modulating roadside mowing), and by utilizing harvested invasive plant material and prairie plants for biofuel.

For more details, go to www.ipaw.org <http://www.ipaw. org/>

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Mycological Society of America Article on the Widely Prevalent Fungi List

There is an article in the latest issue of Inoculum, the Newsletter of the Mycological Society of America, about the Widely Prevalent Fungi List. You can find Inoculum at http://www.msafungi.org/inoculum. The article is on page 32 of the November 2008 Issue.

New images from Paul Bachi at University of Kentucky

We've just put up a new set of images contibuted by Paul Bachi at the University of Kentucky. This collection has a wide variety of diseases and a good mix of field, laboratory, and microscopic images. Take a look at Paul Bachi's author page on IPM Images. We will be adding more in the next few days but there are already 648 available!

New images from Mary Ann Hansen at Virginia Tech

We've just put up a new set of images contibuted by Mary Ann Hansen at Virginia Tech. This collection has about 148 image at this point with about 600 on the way. Take a look at Mary Ann Hansen's author page on IPM Images.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Stewardship Network to host webcast discussing CWMAs.

Join the Stewardship Network during the eastern time zone's lunch hour (11:45am to 1pm EST) on the second Wednesday of each month for a free interactive online discussion and presentation about various topics relating to caring for natural lands and waters.

Wednesday November 12, 2008

Time: 11:45am to 1pm Eastern



"Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMA)"



Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMA) are local organizations that integrate invasive plant management resources across jurisdictional boundaries to benefit entire communities. They allow partners to share and leverage limited resources, raise awareness about invasive plant problems, and provide a mechanism for collaborative problem-solving on both public and private lands. Each one of the Stewardship Network Clusters is a CWMA. Join Kate Howe and Lisa Brush to learn more about how to form a cooperative effort to combat invasives and what the benefits are.



Location: www.stewardshipnetworkwebcast.org (this link becomes live the day of the webcast, until then it will just take you back to the Stewardship Network website.)

Webcast led by the following experts:



Kate Howe- Coordinator, Midwest Invasive Plant Network Kate Howe works for Purdue University as the Coordinator of the Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN), an organization dedicated to reducing the impacts of invasive plant species in the Midwest. Kate has worked as MIPN Coordinator since January 2005. Her previous jobs include working as Statewide Environmental Biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife, and doing scientific research on the causes and consequences of plant invasions in prairies and forests. She has a M.S. in Ecology from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Washington.

Lisa Brush - Executive Director, Stewardship Network. Lisa has worked in the environmental field in Michigan for the last fifteen years. She is currently the Executive Director of the Stewardship Network and has been involved with the Network since its inception more than 10 years ago. She has a wealth of experience helping non-scientific people understand scientific issues. For over nine years, as she has built and coordinated the Stewardship Network, she has emphasized effective and meaningful stakeholder involvement in developing and implementing all aspects of this program.

Invasives bring sad stories to Georgia forests.

Story on the state of forests in Georgia from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution here.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Traveling goats used to control kudzu.

Interesting story found here.

Mail Carriers On Python Patrol In South Florida

From NPR All Things Considered, October 18, 2008

The Nature Conservancy and wildlife officials have enlisted the help of postal carriers in the Florida Keys to defend against the invasive Burmese Python. Mail carrier Marsha Fletcher-Shew talks about these "python patrols," and Kristina Serbesoff-King, invasive species program manager for the Conservancy, explains why the snakes are such a problem.

To hear the story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95867920