invasive species

Invasive plants and pests are spreading faster, and they’re getting a lot of help

by N.C. Forest Service | Jun 9, 2022

Now that the months have turned to summer, folks are spending more time outdoors. Whether that makes you an outdoor enthusiast, or simply puts you in the yard, in front of a grill or by the pool, you may notice new tree damage and unfamiliar insects. While many people associate tree damage with weather events, […]

Poolside Pests: Checking your pool filters this summer can save North Carolina’s trees

by N.C. Forest Service | May 26, 2021

Guest authors: Courtney Smith and Kelly Oten, NCSU Extension As the weather gets warmer in North Carolina, it’s clear that summer is upon us. Many people enjoy what summer brings — the warm weather, vacations and relaxing by the pool! But did you know that you could also help save North Carolina’s trees while enjoying […]

Look out for the spotted lanternfly, a bug that threatens fruit and wine!

by N.C. Forest Service | May 20, 2021

Guest authors: Courtney Smith and Kelly Oten, NCSU Extension You won’t like the spotted lanternfly if you like to sit under the shade of trees, enjoy fruits such as apples, sip wine or work in the garden. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect from Asia that attacks numerous plants. It was first detected in […]

Save our trees. Be on the lookout for the Asian longhorned beetle!

by N.C. Forest Service | May 19, 2021

Guest authors: Courtney Smith and Kelly Oten, NCSU Extension Gorgeous, vibrant maple trees are a common sight in North Carolina. These trees are some of the first to show fall color, painting our landscape. They are the second most common tree in our forests, and maples are also a favorite street or landscape tree. If […]

Spotted Lanternfly could be dangerous for North Carolina; Here’s what you need to know

by Joey Pitchford | Mar 15, 2021

While North Carolina has its fair share of invasive species already within the state, experts at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are also on the lookout for pests just outside of our borders. The Spotted Lanternfly is a particularly worrisome pest with heavy breeding populations in several nearby states, and NCDA&CS […]

Fire ants quarantine looks to slow down persistent pests

by Joey Pitchford | Jan 20, 2021

When people think of “dangerous invasive pests,” fire ants might not necessarily come to mind. While many people view fire ants as a ubiquitous part of life, the pests have actually only been in North Carolina since the 1950’s, after being imported to the United States in the early 20th century. Since first being detected […]

Gypsy Moth program stays proactive

by Joey Pitchford | Jun 11, 2020

It all started with a few errant caterpillars. In 1869, French entomologist Étienne Léopold Trouvelot brought the larvae of the Gypsy Moth across the sea intending to breed them with silkworms to create a silk industry in America. Instead, as the story goes, a storm led to several of the larvae being released from his […]

An Ash Worth Saving: Program protects trees from invasive beetle

by N.C. Forest Service | Jan 15, 2020

Seven years ago, the emerald ash borer was first found in North Carolina. Its discovery was met with dread. This invasive beetle had already become notorious by devastating the forests in the Midwest and Northeast. We knew it killed trees and spread quickly. The future was not bright for North Carolina’s ash trees. This is […]

Have Fungus, Will Travel: Tree-killing disease jumps to Tennessee and Kentucky

by N.C. Forest Service | Aug 7, 2019

An unwelcome sight has plagued our coastal forests for years now. Dead redbay trees line the roadways and mar our coastal forests in southeastern N.C. These trees are dead because of an invader—a non-native fungus carried from tree to tree by the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle. This fungus causes laurel wilt disease and infected redbays […]

Busy Summer for Invasive Tree-Killer: Emerald ash borer detected in 11 new counties since May

by N.C. Forest Service | Jul 19, 2019

Summer is often full of plans, but no one has been busier this year than the emerald ash borer. Although small, this invasive beetle is killing countless ash trees across the state. Since May, it has been confirmed in 11 additional counties within North Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 48 as of mid-July. Newly-infested […]

You’re not from around here, are ya? Invasive species are a worldwide issue

by N.C. Forest Service | Mar 27, 2019

There are several strangers in a strange land here in North Carolina. In fact, the majority of our worst forest pests are non-native invasive species. In the 1990s, the tree-killing hemlock woolly adelgid was first found in N.C. and can now be found in every county in the state where hemlocks are native. Hemlock mortality […]

Walnut twig beetle & thousand cankers disease stay confined to Haywood County

by N.C. Forest Service | Jan 9, 2019

In 2012, thousand cankers disease was confirmed in North Carolina for the first time. The invasive disease, responsible for killing walnut trees in walnut groves in the western U.S. and as a new introduction to eastern Tennessee at the time, was a frightening prospect for the state. However, since that time, the disease or its […]

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