News on Rochester-area Invasive Species

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    "The invasion of noxious weeds has created a level of destruction to America's environment and economy that is matched only by the damage caused by floods, earthquakes, wildfire, hurricanes and mudslides," Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt said. "This is truly an explosion in slow motion by opportunistic alien species with few if any natural enemies." --from the U.S. Department of the Interior

Purple Loosestrife Bug

 It is good that scientists have discovered how disruptive invasive species can be. We now know that the Purple Loosestrife, brought over from German in the last century and now over-ridding our marshes and fields, have disrupted our indigenous plants and animals. It’s also good that efforts are being made to control this beautiful pest, as we must assume that there is an inherent biological value in keeping our local ecology intact. 

What is not good is that without a compete biodiversity study—the sum total of all plants and animals and their relationships--of our area’s environment, we have no idea the nature or the extent of the problem. Far greater than the effect this plant has on our environment is humanity’s. Without a biodiversity study, we shooting blind, attempting to solve problems we don’t understand. The bug we introduce into our environment to control this invasive species may in time be a greater threat to our environment (our existence) than the Purple Loosestrife. But, we won’t know because we want a quick, inexpensive, simple solution to the most complex situation we have ever come up against. 

We will never know how much we have altered the environment by our development and overpopulation because we made wholesale changes—cutting trees, polluting waterways, destroying animal and plant habitats, and spewing debris into the air—without knowing or caring what changes these actions of ours have made. The disruption of our environment by the Purple Loosestrife is nothing compared with our intrusion upon Nature and it’s going to take a lot more than a bug to control us.

The Invasive Plant Council of NYS IPC has developed an Early Detection list for each of the eight PRISM regions in the state (see PRISM map at bottom of page). Each of the plants listed below is on the Early Detection List for one or more PRISMs.

  NYSDEC - New York State Invasive Species Task Force Early in the 20th Century, chestnut blight arrived in North America and has since wiped out one of the most valuable trees in our forest, the American chestnut. Zebra mussels arrived here from their native Caspian Sea in the late 20th Century and have altered ecosystems, clogged pipes, and ruined bathing beaches in some of our largest waters. Near the start of the present century, West Nile Virus came here from Africa and has harmed both birds and humans. Asian Longhorn Beetle arrived within the lumber used for packing crates and has forced us to cut down thousands of prized shade trees in our cities and suburbs - in the hope that it does not spread to our forests. Swede midge is poised in Canada; it could decimate our broccoli and cabbage crops. Chronic Wasting Disease has been moving east ward from its origins in Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer. It could create havoc with our White-tailed Deer if it enters New York. Although numerous agencies and organizations across New York are combating the threats posed by these invasive species, our state does not yet have a fully coordinated or comprehensive defense

  Nuisance & Invasive Species - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation While people usually enjoy having wildlife around, problems sometimes arise when the activities of people and wildlife clash. We have provided links to sources of information that will help you better understand wildlife and their habits and suggest things you can do to prevent and control wildlife damage. Please note that most wildlife is protected by state and federal law, and some control activities may require permits. For help with wildlife nuisance or damage, check the Yellow Pages for licensed nuisance wildlife control operators under "Pest Control Services." Further information is available from your regional wildlife office.

Find copious resources from Invasive Species: The Nation's Invasive Species Information System the on Purple Loosestrife

For more information on giant hogweed or to report a sighting, call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County's Gardening Helpline at (585) 473-5335 or the Wayne County extension office at (315) 331-8415. (July 17, 2004) Democrat and Chronicle

  Find out about Invasive Species in our waters: Sea Grant: National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse Welcome to Sea Grant's NATIONAL AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES CLEARINGHOUSE, an international library of research, public policy, and outreach education publications pertaining to invasive marine and fresh-water aquatic nuisance species in North America. It is the home of North America's most extensive library of publications related to the spread, biology, impacts and control of zebra mussels. The Clearinghouse is operated by New York Sea Grant, a bipartite research, education and technology transfer program of Cornell University and the State University of New York. The Clearinghouse is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is located on the campus of State University of New York at Brockport.

Invasive Plants "The Invasive Plants website contains information on invasive plants, their impact on native species, and their control (particularly biological control). The web pages focus on work conducted by students and staff of the Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants Program, directed by Bernd Blossey, at Cornell University. The majority of our work concerns species and ecosystems in northeastern North America, but most species we work with are distributed widely through North America. We invite you to explore this website and to participate or contribute to ongoing research projects."

Invasive Species in the Rochester-Area News (Please note links below will open in a new window.)

Resources for Invasive Species

• New York State Integrated Pest Management Program: We develop sustainable ways to manage pests and help people to use methods that minimize environmental, health, and economic risks.

•  Invasive Species: The Nation's Invasive Species Information System Invasivespecies.gov is the gateway to Federal efforts concerning invasive species. On this site you can learn about the impacts of invasive species and the Federal government's response, as well as read select species profiles and find links to agencies and organizations dealing with invasive species issues. Invasivespecies.gov is also the website for the National Invasive Species Council, which coordinates Federal responses to the problem.

• Invasive Plant Council of New York State  the Invasive Plant Council of New York State was incorporated in 1999. Our goal is to organize an effective partnership among public and private organizations to address the need for invasive species information and control across the state. Working together, public and private agencies and concerned private citizens will find practical solutions to invasive species problems and protect our diverse natural heritage.

• Asian Longhorned Beetle - Extensive resources and information from the USDA on major invasive species that affects our trees.  

• Alert All Trees... The Asian Longhorn Beetle Is Coming!  The Asian Longhorn beetle poses a serious threat to the U.S. forest and ornamental tree industry. The public should be informed about this devastating imported insect. It is important to educate the public about the detrimental effects of the Asian Longhorn beetle in order to maintain control and prevent the spread of this menacing pest. --University of Wisconsin

• Invasive Weeds: A Growing Pain Many weeds have pretty flowers but they are a growing pain. They crowd out native plants, harm animal habitats and increase erosion. --Bureau of Land Management
  Environmental Education Homepage

•  Purple Loosestrife

  •  Purple Loosestrife: What You Should Know, What You Can Do

  • Welcome to the Purple Pages! "This is the homepage of the Purple Loosestrife Project at Michigan State University. Explore these pages to learn more about our biological control project, which engages citizens and young adults in the control of purple loosestrife using the plant’s own natural enemies.

  •  Purple Loosestrife InfoCentre-- an excellent resource for finding about the Purple Loosestrife, recent new stories on this issue, and photos also

  • Purple Loosestrife Management Resources from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    National Wildlife Refuge System

  •  Purple Loosestrife at Montezuma   "Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge has been, and will remain, a key area for research on the management and control of purple loosestrife. In part, this is due to the fact that the refuge has suffered one of the nation's worst infestations of loosestrife over the past 45 years."

•  WAIS Gateway This is a searchable index of information for "invasive plant species":.

•  IPC - The Invasive Plant Council of NYS: A partnership dedicated to solving invasive plant species problems in New York State.

• Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a member of the parsley or carrot family, Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). As its name indicates it is characterized by its size and may grow to 15 to 20 feet in height.

• Giant Hogweed Noxious Weed Identification Giant Hogweed is originally from Asia and was introduced as an ornamental. A member of the parsley family, its most impressive characteristic is its massive size. It reaches a height of 10 to 15 feet when in flower and has hollow stems, 2 to 4 inches in diameter with dark reddish-purple spots and bristles. --King County, Washington

• Round Goby: An Exotic Fish in the Great Lakes The round goby, Neogobius melanstomus, is a small, bottom - dwelling fish that was first found in the Great Lakes region in 1990. Originally from the Black and Caspian Sea areas of Eastern Europe, it is believed that this exotic species arrived in the ballast water of vessels coming into the Great Lakes. Since the first sighting in the St. Clair River, round gobies have spread to all of the Great Lakes and are working their way inland through the rivers and canal systems. --USGS

•  Invasive Species: Round goby profile --from Invasive Species: The Nation's Invasive Species Information System

• Welcome to Sea Grant's National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse, home of North America's most extensive technical library of publications related to the spread, biology, impacts and control of zebra mussels and other important aquatic nuisance, non-indigenous and invasive species.

•  Biological Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) is an exotic aquatic plant that was introduced to North America between the late 1800's and the early 1940's (Aiken et al. 1979, Smith and Barko 1990). It grows rapidly and tends to form a dense canopy on the water surface, which often interferes with recreation, inhibits water flow, and impedes navigation (Grace and Wetzel 1978, Smith and Barko 1990).

• Invasive Species --from The Nature Conservancy - nature conservation, biodiversity, conservation groups, endangered species, environmental organization, tropical rain forest conservation, wildlife habitats preservation  You can find the answers to these questions, view pictures of commonly found invasive plants that may be in your own backyard, and learn what you can do to help at http://nature.org/invasives/  At first glance they may look pretty, but invasive plants can pose a serious environmental threat in your own backyard. Once used widely in gardening, landscaping and erosion control, invasive like the five pictured here can be found in yards, along roadsides and in business lots across the country. Free from natural restraints, these alien invaders establish themselves in new areas and eventually supplant native species.

• Asian Longhorned Beetle from the USDA. Everything you wanted to know about this invasive species.

• Protect Your Waters and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers. Throughout history, man has experimented with intentional introductions of exotic plant and animal species for a variety of reasons. While many introductions have produced beneficial results, a very small minority has created significant negative impacts.

•  New Invader: The Asian Carp One barrier is in place and others are in the works against a finny invader that weighs up to 60 pounds, eats so much it threatens to starve out other fish and breeds so fast that Australians nicknamed it "river rabbit."

•  Quagga Mussel

•  Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Alert The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is a serious pest of hemlock in the northeastern United States.

• Invasive Species: The Nation's Invasive Species Information System Invasivespecies.gov is the gateway to Federal efforts concerning invasive species. On this site you can learn about the impacts of invasive species and the Federal government's response, as well as read select species profiles and find links to agencies and organizations dealing with invasive species issues. Invasivespecies.gov is also the website for the National Invasive Species Council, which coordinates Federal responses to the problem.

• Pales Weevil - FIDL The pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst),4 is the most serious insect pest of pine seedlings in the Eastern United States. Great numbers of adult weevils are attracted to freshly cutover pine lands where they breed in stumps and old root systems. Seedlings planted in freshly cut areas are injured or killed by adult weevils that feed on the stem bark. It is not uncommon to have 30 to 60 percent weevil-caused mortality among first-year seedlings in the South, and mortality of 90 percent or more has been recorded. In the North, pales weevil is also destructive to pine and other conifers grown for Christmas trees.

•  European Starling "All of the European Starlings found today in North America-and they number in the 200 million range-are descendants of approximately 100 birds introduced in New York City's Central Park in the early 1890s" Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• http://www.swallow-wort.com A.K.A. "Dog Strangling Vine" - Pale Swallow-wort is a member of the milkweed family. It is a herbaceous perennial vine, 2 to 6 feet in height. The leaves are opposite in arrangement, oval to wedge-shaped, with pointed tips. Generally, the leaves are 2.5 to 4.5" long and 2 to 2.75" wide. They are glossy and medium-green in color. In summer, the leaves display a warm yellow color. The flowers are small and fleshy, with 5 pink to maroon colored petals. They are borne in loose clusters and are visible in late May through mid July. The fruit is a smooth, slender, pointed pod. The pods are light-green in color and are frequently borne in pairs. They are abundant during July and August. Like milkweed, the pods open in late summer, disseminating large numbers of downy seeds.

• Snakehead Fish Snakehead fish are native to China but are imported into the US as aquarium fish as well as food fish. Snakeheads can cause serious problems to native fish populations if they get established in US waters.

• Asian Carp and the Great Lakes --from the EPA. Find out what effect these invasive species might have on the Great Lakes.

• Emerald Ash Borer "Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients."