Bark Beetles of the Southeastern United States

CPHST is pleased to announce the release of a new identification tool, An Identification Tool for Bark Beetles of the Southeastern United States. Bark Beetles of the Southeastern United States was created through collaboration among USDA/APHIS/PPQ Center for Plant Health Science and Technology (CPHST), North Carolina State University (NCSU), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), Southern Plant Diagnostic Network (SPDN), Oregon Department of Agriculture, and Museum Victoria, Australia (PaDIL image library). The internet-based tool separates southeastern United States genera contained within the Curculionidae subfamily Scolytinae, focusing specifically on members of the tribes Hylesinini and Scolytini.

Bark Beetles of the Southeastern United States, developed and released in Lucid version 3.4, was uploaded to the Internet in January 2010 to support easy access by PPQ and our cooperators. Bark Beetles of the Southeastern United States can be accessed at: http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/bark_beetles.htm

Some of the images from this project are available through the Bugwood Image Database.  Below are the links to some of the image galleries:

•   J.R. Baker & S.B. Bambara 
•  Pest and Diseases Image Library (PaDIL)

Buy and burn firewood locally

Tri-state campaign to prevent the spread of invasive species


Buy and burn firewood locally

Boise, ID—Three states in the Pacific Northwest are teaming up to spread the word about the dangers of transporting firewood. The campaign has been made possible with grant funding from the 2010 Farm Bill. The Idaho Invasive Species Council (IISC) will work with the Oregon Invasive Species Council and the Washington Invasive Species Council to launch an outreach and education campaign to inform the public about insect and fungal invasive species and diseases that can be spread by moving firewood.

“Prevention is key to the success of invasive species programs,” said IISC Chair Celia Gould, director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. “We will be working with the other Pacific Northwest states to encourage people to buy and burn their wood locally. We are striving to prevent the introduction of invasive species like emerald ash borer to the region. These invasive species have decimated forests in the eastern United States and threaten millions of forested acres in Idaho and the West.”

The tri-state campaign is funded through a 2010 Farm Bill grant, and plans to include billboards and radio spots, firewood exchange programs, and a pilot project that includes free firewood in designated campgrounds.
People move firewood to camp sites and homes without recognizing the threat it poses as a pathway for the unintentional spread of invasive species. It is well established that firewood is an important pathway for the spread of these forest pests in the United States. A national Web site, http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/ provides excellent information on not moving firewood.

“We are working to prevent the spread of these species to the West. When people plan their next trip, we hope that they will leave their firewood behind. We want people to buy and burn local,” said Gould. “These species do not respect state lines, and working regionally can make a difference.”

For questions or further information, please contact Amy Ferriter at 208-332-8686 or amy.ferriter@agri.idaho.gov.

SE-EPPC Annual Meeting

Disturbance and Change, Invasive Plants and Paths to Recovery a Joint Meeting of SE-EPPC and SE-SER

Chattanooga, TN, May 11-13, 2010 (Tuesday-Thursday)

Join us May 11th through 13th for the first joint meeting between the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council and the Southeast Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration International

This will be an exciting meeting that brings together practitioners and researchers from the fields of restoration and invasive plant species management. Take this unique opportunity to network and learn together. The meeting will be held at the historic Sheraton Read House Hotel in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.

For more information about the meeting and instructions on abstract submittal, go to the meeting web site at http://www.se-eppc.org/2010/.

Chattanooga is a thriving city surrounded by spectacular views and offering an abundance of educational, recreational, and historical tourism opportunities including the outstanding Tennessee Aquarium. A variety of outdoor recreational opportunities are available within a very short drive of the downtown area including hiking, whitewater rafting, and much, much more. Chattanooga is a progressive city that has been addressing invasive plant issues and climate change and is creating a healthy, prosperous city for all generations as a green community.

Keynote Speaker

Coping with Disturbance and Change: Identifying the Costs Associated with Invasive Plants in the Southeast Don Hodges, University of Tennessee, Professor of Forest Economics and Policy and Director of the University of Tennessee Natural Resource Policy Center

Plenary Speakers

Insights into the green initiatives being made within the city of Chattanooga.
Gene Hyde, City Forester for Chattanooga, current Chair of the Chattanooga Green Committee, and lead member of Mayor Littlefield's climate protection core group.
Restoration of Native Grasses in the southeastern United States
Tom Barnes, University of Kentucky, Professor and extension wildlife specialist

Major invasive species bill approved in Mexico

Mexico just passed an invasive species bill in the Deputy Chamber by 375 votes in favor, none against and 7 abstentions. The Senate vote was on 6 November 2008: 71 for, 0 against and 1 abstention. So it unanimously passed both chambers and will go to the Executive to be published in the Official Register to become a law. The bill says the Executive can make comments and if not they have to publish it immediately. The Environment Ministry was in favor of the bill when they were consulted by the Senate. Publication and legal effect of the new law should happen in a few months.


It defines an exotic invasive species and:

• Prohibits the importation of exotic invasive species or any other wild species that can carry an exotic invasive species

• Prohibits the release into the wild of exotic invasive species

• Mandates the creation of a list of exotic invasive species that has to be reviewed every 3 years

• Mandates the creation of a regulation on prevention of entry of these species, management, control and erradication of those exotic invasives which are already established in Mexico.

• Gives the Economy Ministry the power to control transit of these species inside Mexico

Thanks to Peter Jenkins via Aliens-L - http://www.issg.org/about.htm

Invasive Species Impacts

New publication: Global indicators of biological invasion: species numbers, biodiversity impact and policy responses, more information available here:  http://www.iucn.org/media/materials/releases/?4561/Impact-of-natures-invading-aliens-measured-for-first-time

Khapra beetle found on UPS flight

Serious pest of grain storage in the Middle East, Africa and eastern Asia but is not present in the U.S.

See article at: http://www.kentucky.com/latest_news/story/1144527.html