Tag:

Invasive Species

Ocean
News
NJ Waging War Against Spotted Lanternflies — With Cash NJ Waging War Against Spotted Lanternflies — With Cash
NJ Waging War Against Spotted Lanternflies — With Cash Communities across New Jersey can get help from the state to squash the invasive spotted lanternfly. The state's agriculture department says counties can apply for up to $50,000 to battle spotted lanternflies from 2024 to 2026. Municipalities can receive up to $20,000. Counties and municipalities can be paid back for chemical treatment activities to kill the invasive insects. Spotted lanternflies don't harm humans or animals but can hurt about 70 types of trees and plants. The agriculture department says many local governments took advantage of this grant program in 2023. “The expand…

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by Chris Spiker
Fairfield
News
Invasive Tick Found In Fairfield: Could Have 'Significant' Health Impact, Researchers Say Invasive Tick Found In Fairfield: Could Have 'Significant' Health Impact, Researchers Say
Invasive Tick Found In Fairfield: Could Have 'Significant' Health Impact, Researchers Say Following the third confirmed discovery of an Asian longhorned tick in Connecticut, researchers are warning of the potential health impacts that the invasive arachnids could bring to the state.  The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory identified one Asian longhorned tick in Fairfield County over the summer after it was submitted by someone in the town of Fairfield, University of Connecticut officials announced on Thursday, Sept. 7. The tick is the third case that the laboratory has seen in Connecticut since the species arrived in the US in 2017. The firs…

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by Ben Crnic
White Plains
News
Invasive Species Outbreak: Westchester Officials Use Vacuums To Combat Harmful Insects Invasive Species Outbreak: Westchester Officials Use Vacuums To Combat Harmful Insects
Invasive Species Outbreak: Westchester Officials Use Vacuums To Combat Harmful Insects Westchester officials are stepping up efforts to fight back against an outbreak of an invasive insect that is leaving parks and wooded areas vulnerable to disease.  The increased efforts have followed the discovery of the Spotted Lanternfly, which has spread rapidly throughout Westchester, county officials announced on Tuesday, Aug. 1.  An invasive species, the Spotted Lanternfly can cause "significant damage" to parks and wooded areas by sucking sap from plants, which can leave them vulnerable to disease and threats from other insects, officials said.  The juveniles of the species are id…

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by Ben Crnic
Somers
News
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester The invasive spotted lanternfly continues its invasion of New York. A state effort to track the spread and prevalence of the insect using community reports and digital mapping shows it has now been spotted in all five boroughs of New York City, across Long Island, and throughout the Hudson Valley. Earlier Report: Capital District Among Regions In NY That Have Been 'Infested' By Invasive Insect, Schumer Says As of November 2022, the insect, also known as Chinese blistering cicada, has been confirmed in 16 New York counties, including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, …

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by Michael Mashburn
Hudson
News
Video Captures Spotted Lanternflies Swarming Jersey City Building Video Captures Spotted Lanternflies Swarming Jersey City Building
Video Captures Spotted Lanternflies Swarming Jersey City Building Spotted lanternflies seem to be more prevalent than ever this year in New Jersey.  One Jersey City resident captured the invasive species swarming a Jersey City building, and he fears they could harm the newly-planted trees in a nearby park. "Tens of thousands are on the west side of 333 Grand. They look like they crash into the glass on the upper floors and fall to the sidewalk," Marc Wesson writes in the video.  "We sprayed them with agriculture grade vinegar, and killed most of them. My concern is that they are only a block away from the park, and that kind of infestation woul…

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by Cecilia Levine
Yorktown
News
See Them? Squash Them: NY Officials Encourage Residents To Kill This Invasive Insect See Them? Squash Them: NY Officials Encourage Residents To Kill This Invasive Insect
See Them? Squash Them: NY Officials Encourage Residents To Kill This Invasive Insect If you see them, squash them. That’s the message from the New York State Department of Agriculture, which is warning about an invasive insect known as the spotted lanternfly. Native to Asia, the pink and gray dotted bugs were first spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014 and have been spreading across the Northeast ever since. Spotted lanternflies are not harmful to humans, but can damage crops and certain trees considered critical to agriculture. State agriculture officials urged New Yorkers who encounter the bugs to quickly exterminate them. We need EVERY New Yorker to keep their eyes pee…

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by Michael Mashburn
Loudoun
News
Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes Appearance In Loudoun County Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes Appearance In Loudoun County
Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes Appearance In Loudoun County An invasive insect that has been a point of consternation for farmers for years has been discovered in some parts of Virginia. The spotted lanternfly, which hails from southeast Asia before it made its way stateside in 2014 has reportedly been found in Loudoun County in recent weeks, causing concern for some. Lanternflies target the sap of certain trees, including grapevines, fruit trees, and other plants, devastating them. According to officials, if one spots a lanternfly, they should kill it, then send it to the state officials for evaluation. Officials noted that lanternflies pose no t…

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by Zak Failla
Prince William
News
This Virginia County Needs Your Help To Spot An Invasive Insect This Spring This Virginia County Needs Your Help To Spot An Invasive Insect This Spring
This Virginia County Needs Your Help To Spot An Invasive Insect This Spring The Prince William County Department of Public Works is seeking the public's help in reducing the spread of an invasive species that can feed on more than 100 different trees and plants.  The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) presents a challenge every spring as their eggs, which can survive the winter, begin to hatch. While the pest's presence has been limited to certain areas, the county is trying to proactively control the insects' spread before it worsens.  “We’re still trying to look for areas where it is,” said Forest and Pest Management Branch Environmental Analyst Valerie Huel…

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by David Cifarelli
Pleasantville
Lifestyle
Invasive Jumping Worms Spotted In Northeast: Here's What To Know Invasive Jumping Worms Spotted In Northeast: Here's What To Know
Invasive Jumping Worms Spotted In Northeast: Here's What To Know With new reports of jumping worms being spotted in gardens in the Northeast, here's what you need to know about the invasive species. The worms, which originated in Japan and the Korean Peninsula, have been seen in several states across the Northeast in recent months. Jumping worms were spotted in the Hugh Cargill Community Garden in Concord, Massachusetts, according to a report from Boston.com in November.  CBC reported in March that the invasive species has also been detected in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  Sightings have also been reported in New York. The worms received thei…

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by Nicole Valinote
Yorktown
News
Venomous 'Parachuting' Spider Species From Asia Headed To East Coast Venomous 'Parachuting' Spider Species From Asia Headed To East Coast
Venomous 'Parachuting' Spider Species From Asia Headed To East Coast A hoard of new eight-legged neighbors will soon be parachuting toward the East Coast as the Joro spider begins making its march toward the region. The invasive species - dubbed “parachuting” for its distinct look and mode of transportation - has already begun making its mark in the south, is expected to begin migrating north, according to a newly released study. Joro spiders have two ways of travel, by hitching a ride on humans or cargo, or by “ballooning up
“ and generating silk threads that can be used as “parachutes” to use the wind to traverse the environment. Joro spider.Wikimedia…

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by Zak Failla
The Berkshires
News
Invasive Insect Spotted In Massachusetts Invasive Insect Spotted In Massachusetts
Invasive Insect Spotted In Massachusetts A new invasive insect that has been a point of consternation for farmers for years has been discovered in Massachusetts. The spotted lanternfly, which hails from southeast Asia before it made its way stateside in 2014 has reportedly been found in Worcester County in recent weeks, causing concern for some in Worcester County. Lanternflies target the sap of certain trees, including grapevines, fruit trees, and other plants, potentially devastating them. The infestation is currently secluded to a single cluster of three trees in the area, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultu…

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by Zak Failla
Mount Pleasant
News
Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley
Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley A new invasive insect that has been a point of consternation for farmers for years has been discovered in the Hudson Valley. The spotted lanternfly, which hails from southeast Asia before it made its way stateside in 2014 has reportedly been found in Orange and Rockland counties in recent weeks, causing concern for some. Lanternflies target the sap of certain trees, including grapevines, fruit trees, and other plants, devastating them. According to officials, if one spots a lanternfly, they should kill it, then send it to the state Department of Environmental Conservation for evaluation. …

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by Zak Failla
Brookfield
Lifestyle
Seen It? Invasive Insect Has Been Found In Fairfield County Seen It? Invasive Insect Has Been Found In Fairfield County
Seen It? Invasive Insect Has Been Found In Fairfield County A new invasive insect that has been a point of consternation for farmers for years has been discovered in parts of Connecticut. The spotted lanternfly, which hails from southeast Asia before it made its way stateside in 2014 has reportedly been found in Fairfield and New Haven counties.  Lanternflies target the sap of certain trees, including grapevines, fruit trees, and other plants, devastating them. According to officials, if one spots a lanternfly, they should kill it, then send it to the state Department of Environmental Conservation for evaluation. Officials noted that lanternf…

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by Zak Failla
Rye
Lifestyle
Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning
Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning Do not release your pet goldfish in lakes or ponds. That's what officials are saying after a huge goldfish was recently pulled from a Minnesota lake, an issue that has been seen across the United States in recent years. National Geographic said while a goldfish typically weighs just 0.2 to 0.6 pounds, they can weigh more than five pounds in the wild, CBS News reported. "They grow bigger than you think and contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants," the City of Burnsville, Minnesota, tweeted on Friday, July 9.  In recent years, huge g…

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by Nicole Valinote
Middlesex NJ
News
STOP WORRYING: ‘Murder' Hornets Aren’t Coming, Experts Say STOP WORRYING: ‘Murder' Hornets Aren’t Coming, Experts Say
Stop Worrying: ‘Murder' Hornets Aren’t Coming, Experts Say Fearmongering warnings of a pending "murder hornet" invasion are creating unnecessary worry, experts in the field said. There are no confirmed reports of the large pest’s presence anywhere else in North America but in Washington State and British Columbia – and those were from last year, said Professor Dina M. Fonseca, director of the Center for Vector Biology in the Department of Entomology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers-New Brunswick. The Asian giant hornet (vespa mandarinia) "has not yet been detected this spring and we do not expect them on the East C…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Litchfield
News
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US As if a global pandemic and worldwide economic crisis aren't enough to occupy us, there's now news of the arrival of a vicious, freakish-looking hornet with a venomous sting in the United States for the first time. Asian giant hornets can use shark-fin shaped appendages to destroy a beehive, decapitating its victims in a matter of minutes. “It’s a shockingly large hornet,” said Todd Murray, Washington State University's Extension entomologist and invasive species specialist. “It’s a health hazard, and more importantly, a significant predator of honey bees.” That's especially concerning sin…

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by Joe Lombardi
White Plains
Lifestyle
NY Takes Action Against Invasive Insect NY Takes Action Against Invasive Insect
NY Takes Action Against Invasive Insect After the discovery of the spotted lanternfly was found in New York for the first time in September, the state is taking new steps to stop the spread of the invasive insect. In a news release, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced it has issued a quarantine that will restrict the movement of certain goods brought into the state from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  The lanternfly is a pest from Asia that primarily feeds on a wide variety of plants such as grapevine, hops, maple, walnut, fruit trees and others. Left alone, the insect could impac…

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by Kathy Reakes