Invasive Species

Article and stories about invasive species in our state and other places.

Start Squishing | Across New York, NY Patch

Spotted Lanternfly Reaches Adult Stage In New York: Start Squishing | Across New York, NY Patch

NEW YORK— If you happen to see a spotted lanternfly, invasive insects that feed on more than 100 host plants until their leaves curl and wilt and render them vulnerable to fatal diseases, squish it and let New York agricultural officials know you did it.

With speckled light brown forewings and scarlet and black hind wings, they’re so darned pretty that killing them may seem counterintuitive, but it’s one of the best defenses against these planthoppers, which agricultural officials are trying to stop before they spread into western states.

Spotted lanternflies, first discovered about a decade ago in Pennsylvania, are established in 14 states — Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia. And they have been reported in several others, including Utah, California and Oregon, where dead lanternflies have been observed. It’s unclear if the planthoppers naturally migrated there, or if they hitched a ride on products like landscaping plants, firewood and other products that move across the country.

What is ProcellaCOR herbicide and how does it target milfoil?

What is ProcellaCOR herbicide and how does it target milfoil?

ProcellaCOR is a systemic herbicide that mimics a plant’s growth hormone. It kills the entire plant, leaving decomposing biomass at the bottom of the lake. The active ingredient is Florpyrauxifen‐benzyl, and it can be used at much lower dosages than previous herbicides used to treat Eurasian watermilfoil, including ones previously used or considered on Adirondack lakes.

The herbicide is registered for use in rice-growing operations and for weed control in freshwater. In the Adirondacks, herbicide proponents hope ProcellaCOR can help fight back Eurasian watermilfoil, one of the park’s most pervasive invasive weeds. Documents filed with the APA from region’s seeking permission to use ProcellaCOR project it will control invasive milfoil for three seasons.

Oregon State University professor releases destructive moths, wasps into orchards

Oregon State University professor releases destructive moths, wasps into orchards

More a strategy than specific tool, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) focuses on a stable of techniques, in addition to pesticides, to control pest populations. These include the introduction of natural predators, habitat modification and genetic tinkering.

Orchardists and farmers in the Hood River area are “way ahead of most other regions” when it comes to these sorts of interventions, Adams says.

The sterilized moth release from this summer is modeled after a long-standing project in British Columbia.

The Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program has sterilized and released codling moths into the Okanogan Valley area since 1992. That’s led to a 94% reduction in the moth population, which in turn has reduced the quantity of pesticides deployed by 96%.