Invasive species

Invasive species Period 1 Evan Martonis & Gannon Kenyon Intro video watch for good timeshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMhw5MFYU0s

What is an “invasive species”? Invasive species is a species of animal that arrives at a foreign region, usually by a boat mix up, trading crates, or accidental/intentional release into the wild

Invasive species in new York

Slender false brome • No one is quite sure on how slender false brome got over here, but we do know that it spreads mainly by seed • We can help limit the spread by brushing off our boots and clothing after leaving an area with known slender false brome • You can also report the infestations to PRISM coordinators, but be sure to include a photo since passive plants are often mistaken for false brome • This plant is a problem because it can prevent tree seedlings, it can also harm mammal, reptile, and insect populations

Gypsy moth Introduction to New York Effects and prevention So far the DEC has stated that Gypsy moths have not posed a significant threat in forests, however, this could quickly be reversed due to their population spreading in large quantities Gypsy moths eat new leaves in the spring, although the trees can regrow their leaves easily, this could cause stress on them and even make them more susceptible to disease You can help prevent the spread by simply killing them by squishing them, burning them, whatever floats your boat As for the eggs, those can be easily scraped off of trees and dropped into a container full of detergent, or you could just take a flamethrower to them, it’s like little leaves burning • Gypsy moths were introduced in 1869 from Europe and Asia in hopes to create a better silk industry by breeding them with silkworms • However some of the moths escaped and homed themselves originally in Medford, Massachusetts, this is where the outbreak began

Water chestnut The water chestnut was first introduced in the U.S in the mid-1800’s, it was first spotted in New York in 1884. Water chestnuts grow rapidly and occupy ponds, lakes, and other varied bodies of water. It spreads by fruits and rosette when they detach from their stems, another way of their spread is by hitching a ride onto boats, fishing equipment, and other floatation objects/devices. When the rosettes first appear, you can pull them up to help reduce the size of the infestation, people also tend to use chemical methods, such as herbicides. You can also always help to prevent the spread by cleaning and draining your watercrafts before and after you use them. It is crucial to get help eradicate water chestnuts because they have very sharp, pointy barbs that can pierce through unsuspecting fish and in turn kill them. They can also injure humans and pierce human flesh when stepped on.

Sirex woodwasp Origin Prevention and effects When female sirexwoodwasps lay their eggs they inject a toxic mucus in the bark of their chosen tree, usually pine This mucus can kill the trees at a very fast rate after injection, trees that are more stressed out seem to be at a greater risk When the larvae are settled into the tree bark, it takes up to a year in order for them to hatch, in this time the wood can be transported all around, causing them to spread rapidly If a Sirex woodwasp is suspected by someone, then they should capture it and call the Forest Information Line, it’ll take a bit to correctly identify if it is indeed a woodwasp by the DEC • The sirex woodwasp was first found in NY in 2004, this was the first discovery of it in North American

Asian longhorned beetle The Asian longhorned beetle came to America from China and Korea. It’s diet consists of a variety of hardwoods such as maple, birch, elm, ash, poplar, and willow. In 1996 the beetles were found infesting maple trees in Brooklyn. It is likely that the insect hitched a ride in wooden packing material all of the way from China. Since the beetles seem to highly prefer maple trees, they are a big threat, especially to New York. You can help by obeying the firewood regulations set in NY, if a pool is owned, you should make sure to check the filter and skimmers and see if anything ALB’s have housed themselves in there.

Oak wilt • Oak wilt (obviously) affects oak trees and kills the trees red oaks are affected more • The origin of oak wilt is as of now unknown • The dieses destroys an important lumber wood • Quarantine and attempt to destroy the infected trees in an attempt to manage the problem

Emerald ash borer The Emerald Ash Borer origin story The impacts and how we can prevent the spread The EAB has greatly impacted the tree population, as it feeds on different species of ash trees This makes the population of ash seeds equally as scarce, which many different types of birds and mammals eat as a food source The prevention of transporting firewood has already started helping, although there is always more you can do to help out If you think you have EAB or know of any, you can contact the DEC’s information line to tip them off • The EAB (Emerald Ash Borer) originated from Asia, it came over to New York due to movement of ash firewood and or ash nursery stocks • Due to them transporting from wood movement, the DEC (Department’s Forest Health) has prohibited the transportation of firewood in New York

Eurasian Boar Originated in Russia and Asia They escaped from enclosed shooting facilities and bred in the wild The boars consume food that other species eat causing lowered amounts of native species The DEC is attempting to stop any boars from entering and eliminate any already in the state https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ4lxhs_Snw fun video of exploding pigs VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS FLYING PIG PARTS

Northern Snakehead This is a predatory fish originating from Asia introduced through fish market releases The have the potential to compleately wipe out native fish populations They are very hard to control but can be slowed down by prohibiting the ability to own or sell the fish

Nutria (not in ny) Wow, what a cutie. A cutie that destroys and demolishes plant roots. Anyways, this little dude arrived in Washington for the fur industry in the 1930’s. Everyday they consume 25% of their body weight, causing them to be able to rapidly take down plant roots and plant stems, as that is their main dietary source. If a nutria is spotted, you should report it to the DEC right away. In Washington, the Department of Fish and Wildlife also recommends that anyone with a trapping license should try to trap and capture these rodents, and then they should be euthanized.

Invasive species