Two thousand mice dropped on Guam by parachute — to kill snakes

Two thousand mice dropped on Guam by parachute — to kill snakes

Google Street View for Invasive Species?

Check it out article here and journal article from PLOS ONE here.

Tawny Crazy Ant Found in Southwest Georgia

A UGA Today article by Sharon Dowdy reports that the tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva, has been reported in Dougherty County by the County Extension Agent, James Morgan. They have already been found in Texas, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, but this is the first report of an occurrence in Georgia.

Tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva
photo by Eli Sarnat, Bugwood.org

They have also been called crazy raspberry ant. They are referred to as crazy, because they travel in an irregular pattern. Tawny crazy ants have been known to displace all other ant species, including fire ants, in areas they infest. They cause damage by killing small livestock and shorting out electrical systems. In addition they become a nuisance for homeowners, limiting use of  outdoor areas by both people and their pets.

• University of Georgia
• Texas A&M University
• PestWorld.org
• PCT: Pest Control Technology
• University of Texas at Austin

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Found in DeKalb and Fulton Counties

EAB Adult: Photo by David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
Found in DeKalb and Fulton Counties

EAB Adult: Photo by Marianne Prue, Ohio Department of
Natural Resources - Division of Forestry, Bugwood.org

The invasive forest insect emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, (Order Coleoptera: Family: Buprestidae) has been found in DeKalb and Fulton counties. The attached announcement from The Georgia Forestry Commission provides an overview of the situation in Georgia. The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia, is a member of the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force and has been involved in the development of the announcement and will be providing educational information and educational programming as needed and appropriate.

EAB is a serious tree pest that has caused havoc and has killed multiple millions of ash trees across a wide swath of the upper U.S. mid-West and Canada. EAB kills trees in both rural and urban forests. EAB is a Federally Regulated Pest and thus, there are several actions related to transport of wood products and materials containing wood that are regulated by Federal and State-laws that may be of more significance to Georgia than the potential loss of ash trees.

News Release from Georgia Forestry Commission:

• Destructive Tree Pest Detected in Georgia - August 12, 2013

EAB larvae
Photo by James W. Smith,
USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Adult's exit hole from tree
Photo by David Cappaert,
Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

 Additional Information on EAB:

• 2013 Georgia Fact Sheet
• Frequently Asked Questions in Georgia
• Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer
• Additional EAB information and images at Invasive.org
• EAB Information at Georgia Invasive Species Task Force Website
• Forest health alerts & updates on emerging threats to Georgia's forests
• US Federal Quarantine Regulations relating to EAB

How You Can Help Slow the Spread of EAB and Other Tree Pests:

• Don't Move Firewood: Burn It Where You Buy It

Video - Cultivating Awareness: Ornamental Plants Invading Natural Areas

Midwest Invasive Plant Network  and Great Lakes Early Detection Network published a video "Cultivating Awareness: Ornamental Plants Invading Natural Areas" on Jul 15, 2013. Well done and very informative.

"Invasive plants are species that are non-native and cause or are likely to cause harm to the economy, the environment, or human health. Some popular ornamental plants are becoming invasive in natural areas. This video demonstrates the impacts of these species on natural areas in the Midwest and provides information on how to make good choices for landscaping." by Midwest Invasive Plant Network.

Although this video targets the invasive species problems in the Midwest, the issues are the same or very similar in other regions. A lot of information is packed into just under 14 minutes.

The smartphone app 'Landscape Alternatives' is now available for iPhone and iPad with the Android version available very soon.

In addition to the 'Landscape Alternatives' smartphone app, a smartphone has been created for collecting and reporting data on invasive species in the Midwest. Smartphone apps have been created to make it easy to collect and report data on invasive species for many regions across North America. The apps here send the data to EDDMapS, Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System. EDDMapS provides a picture of the distribution of invasive species across the U.S. and Canada. EDDMapS cooperates with and aggregates data from other invasive species mapping projects such as GLEDN (Great Lakes Early Detection Network) and Texasinvasives.org.

• Download the free 'Landscape Alternatives' smartphone app for iPhone or iPad
• Download the free smartphone app for Android or iPhone for the Midwest called GLEDN
• Download the free smartphone app for collecting and reporting data in your region
• Create a free account in EDDMapS
• Join GLEDN for reporting in the Midwest/Great Lakes region 
• Join Texasinvasives.org for reporting in Texas

NAISN Launches New Informational Website

NAISN Launches New Informational Website – www.naisn.org 

The North American Invasive Species Network (NAISN) has launched a new informational website (www.naisn.org), which provides a wide variety of invasive species management and research resources, links to a multitude of potential partner organizations, and access to streamlined data-sharing platforms for users throughout the USA, Canada, and Mexico. 

NAISN website development and design was undertaken by three of the eight NAISN member hubs: the Center for Invasive Species Management, Montana State University; the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia; and the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida. 

NAISN is an American 501(c)3 non-profit, science-based organization that was formed in 2010 by university and government scientists and invasive species specialists from across North America. Mexico and Canada participate as NAISN members through a Memorandum of Understanding. 

Because invasive species cross governmental jurisdictional boundaries, NAISN aims to unify and connect existing regional invasive species management and prevention efforts into a single network to improve communication, collaboration, and overall coordination in North America. Its overall goal is to enhance multi-jurisdictional responses to biological invasions across the continent. NAISN membership is targeted toward regional university centers and institutes, government institutions, non-profit organizations, research labs, and/or other groups and individuals with invasive species interests and qualifications that are valuable to the mission of NAISN. 

In addition to serving as a North American focal point for invasive species management, policy, outreach, and research information, the NAISN website also (1) showcases the NAISN organization and the services it offers; (2) provides direct links to the Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) and the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) database systems—platforms for viewing existing and uploading new invasive species data; and (3) provides a compendium of North American invasive species organizations.

We encourage you to visit www.naisn.org, share your work and data, and consider joining NAISN as a member. Feel free to email suggestions or feedback to naisn.webmaster@gmail.com.

Cogongrass Invades the South

It grows on every continent except Antarctica and has earned a reputation as one of the worst weeds on earth. Now, according to U.S. Forest Service emeritus scientist Jim Miller, cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is one of the most threatening invasive species in the South.

http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/2013/06/18/cogongrass-invades-the-south/