Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month

Phenology Report for June 19, 2015

2015-06-19T09:28:00.001-07:00

From time to time, we will be reporting on the development of invasive plants across Illinois, informing readers about what is in bloom, leafing out, setting seed, senescing in different regions of the state. Feel free to add to the knowledge by emailing chris.evans@illinois.gov and letting me know what the plants are doing in your area of Illinois.

Phenology Report for June 19, 2015*

(Contributors include Nick Seaton, Caleb Grantham, Eric Smith, Ryan Campbell, Tricia Bethke, and Mike Daab)
*Report based upon observations between June 10-18, 2015

Southern Illinois

Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora, bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii, and Autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata- These common woody shrub species are all past bloom with green fruit that is starting to ripen. At this time the plants are susceptible to herbicide treatments (both foliar and cut stump work at this time of year).
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata - This herbaceous woodland invader is senescing and starting to drop mature seeds. Control at this time of year is not practical because of the risk to spreading seeds.
Sweet clover, Melilotus sp. - Sweet clover, both yellow and white, are in full bloom throughout the region. Look for them along roadsides, in prairies, and other open areas
Sericea lespedeza, Lespedeza cuneata - Sericea lespedeza is reaching its full height but not in flower yet. Look for this species growing in open areas, prairies, pastures, and roadsides. Control is effective at this point through flowering.
Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum - This annual grass species is starting to put on a lot of growth but will not flower until near the end of summer. Germination is likely finished for the year so treatments can begin.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum - This biennial members of the carrot family is past peak on blooming. Most plants are transitioning into seed production Herbicide treatments are likely not effective at this point.
Reed Canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea - This perennial grass species is transitioning from flowering to mature seed. If control is desired at this time of year, the most productive method would be to mow the plants down (clean the equipment afterwards) and wait until the regrowth is 18-24" high before applying herbicide. Keep in mind that this species often grows in wet areas. If so, an aquatic-labelled herbicide should be used.
Crown vetch, Securigera varia - This perennial herbaceous vine is in full bloom. You can find this plant along many roadsides in the region.
Chinese yam, Dioscorea oppositifolia - This herbaceous perennial vine is growing rapidly. Look for the aerial tubers, called bulbils, to start to form at any point.
Teasel, Dipsacus sp. - Both common and cutleaf teasel are bolting and initial flower heads forming, though no flowers have been observed yet. Now is the perfect time to treat teasel with herbicides but once flowering has started, switch to hand-pulling. Mowing or cutting the flower heads off is not effective.
Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin, and rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus - both of these shrubs/trees are starting to flower right now. Look for them along roadsides and forest edges.
Common reed, Phragmites australis - This huge grass species is growing very fast and starting to get very tall but flower formation has not be observed yet. The best time to treat this species is right at the point of flower initiation.
Hedgeparsley, Torilis sp. - This herbaceous member of the carrot family is just starting to bloom now. Hedgeparsley is a relatively new invader to southern Illinois but can be found along roadsides and other disturbed areas and can grow in both sun and shade environments.
Johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense - This state Noxious Weed is just starting to come into flower. Control is most effective on populations that are almost blooming, but treatments can still be made to populations in early flowering.

Central Illinois

Sweet clover, Melilotus sp. - Yellow sweet clover is in full bloom and white sweet clover is just starting to bloom. Look for them along roadsides, in prairies, and other open areas.
Dame's Rocket, Hesperis matronalis - This species is past peak in blooming. While some blooms can still be observed, plants mostly have seed pods on them at this point. Mechanical control (i.e. hand pulling) can still be effective though care needs to be taken not to spread the seeds.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum and Wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa - both of these biennial plants are in bloom right now, though moving towards past peak. While treatments can still be somewhat effective the best timing is just before blooming.
Teasel, Dipsacus sp. - Teasel is bolting right now but not forming flowers. This is the ideal time to treat teasel chemically.
Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense - This perennial thistle is just starting to come into flower. Unlike most of the other thistles, this species can also spread via rhizomes.
Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea - This perennial grass species seeds are starting to harden. If control is desired at this time of year, the most productive method would be to mow the plants down (clean the equipment afterwards) and wait until the regrowth is 18-24" high before applying herbicide. Keep in mind that this species often grows in wet areas. If so, an aquatic-labelled herbicide should be used.
Crown vetch, Securigera varia and Birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus - These two invasive members of the bean family are in full bloom. Look for them in open areas, such as roadsides and prairies.

Northern Illinois

Wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa - This biennial species is blooming, but past peak. Care should be taken to not expose your skin to wild parsnip sap, particularly in the presence of sunlight, as this can result in sever rashes and burns.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum - This biennial invader of open lands is forming buds but not yet blooming. This is an ideal time to treat this species. Unlike wild parsnip, this species typically does not give you burns or rashes when it contacts your skin, but it is extremely poisonous if ingested.
Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora - This species is blooming but past peak flowering. At this time this species is susceptible to herbicide treatments (both foliar and cut stump work at this time of year)
Bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii - This woody shrub is past flowering and beginning to set fruit, though the fruit are not ripe yet. At this time this species is susceptible to herbicide treatments (both foliar and cut stump work at this time of year)
Common buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica - This woody shrub/small tree is past blooming but fruit have not yet formed. At this time this species is susceptible to herbicide treatments (both foliar and cut stump work at this time of year)
Crown vetch, Securigera varia and Birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus - These two invasive members of the bean family are starting to bloom. Look for them in open areas, such as roadsides and prairies.
Sweet clover, Melilotus sp. - Yellow sweet clover is blooming but white sweet clover has not yet started to flower. Look for them along roadsides, in prairies, and other open areas.
Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica - This aggressive herbaceous perennial is blooming at this point. Even though flowers are present, seed viability is often low and this species can be effectively controlled at this point.
Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria - this wetland invader is not yet blooming. While it can be hard to spot when it is not in flower, this is a great time to treat the species. When using chemical treatments, be sure to use an herbicide approved for use in aquatic situations.
Teasel, Dipsacus sp. - Teasel is starting to bolt right now but not forming flowers. This is the ideal time to treat teasel chemically.
Yellow sweet flag iris, Iris pseudacorus - This invasive iris is past flowering. Because this species often grows in wetlands, be sure to use an herbicide that is approved for use in aquatic situations when treating it.
Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea - This species is in full flower. While pre-flowering and very early flowering are the best times to treat this species, effective control can be achieved at full flower. Once the flowers start to fade, consider mowing the grass and treating the regrowth.
Fig buttercup, Ficaria verna - This species is starting to senesce. It is too late to do any management on this species for this growing season. The early phenology of this species causes it to directly compete with many of our spring ephemeral wildflowers.

Invasive Species Campaign and The Nature Conservancy host successful workshop on Mobile Technologies for Tracking Natural Resource Management Data

2015-06-15T11:53:00.001-07:00

On June 9th, at the Rend Lake Visitors Center in Benton, The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan's Invasive Species Campaign and The Nature Conservancy's Southern Illinois Invasive Species Strike Team partnered to conduct a workshop that demonstrated the Strike Team's use of the ESRI Collector App and GPS-enabled tablets and smartphones to collect natural resource management data.

While the Strike Team uses this set up to track invasive species data, it has the potential to be used to collect any geographic-based data, including prescribed fire, easements, rare species monitoring, forest stand improvements, etc.

Thirty-four people attended the workshop from a variety of state and federal agencies, universities, and organizations. Both classroom presentations and hands-on field demonstrations were used during the workshop and attendees got the opportunity to collect data, download information, sync the devices and use the online mapping interface to view the data.

TNC Strike Team member Nick Seaton discusses the use of ESRI's
collector app to track invasive species management data.

TNC Strike Team member Caleb Grantham demonstrates how the
collector app works on a smartphone.

Guest Article - Be a Hero - Transport Zero Campaign

2015-05-26T11:13:00.001-07:00

Illinois is full of dedicated people and innovative ideas for addressing invasive species. From time to time, this blog is going to host guest articles in which the stories about some of these people, projects, or ideas are told. The next article in this series comes from Sarah Zack, with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Illinois Natural History Survey. Sarah writes here about the Be a Hero-Transport Zero campaign. All of the guest articles can be viewed HERE.

Be a hero – help prevent the spread of invaders in Illinois!

by Sarah Zack, Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist

Some of Illinois’ greatest natural treasures are Lake Michigan and the many inland lakes and rivers. These waters are home for hundreds of fish, invertebrate, waterfowl and plant species, and they provide recreational opportunities and beautiful natural vistas for the people of Illinois to enjoy. Illinois’ waters also provide a significant boost to our economy, since aquatic recreation is a favorite pastime of people all over the state. Most people are probably already aware that invasive species – non-native plants, animals, or pathogens that cause harm to natural areas – have long been recognized as a serious economic and environmental threat. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) can severely impede some of our favorite outdoor activities – Asian carp in the Illinois River can make waterskiing impossible, Eurasian watermilfoil infestations can choke waterways and make swimming difficult, round gobies can decimate smallmouth bass and crappie recruitment; the list goes on and on. In general, people are well aware of the potential negative impacts of AIS in their waterways, but what people don’t always know is that they can make a real difference in the fight against these aquatic invaders.

Figure 1: Recreational water user equipment can easily transport aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels.

In collaboration with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) launched Be a Hero-Transport Zero™, a statewide outreach campaign designed to raise awareness of AIS prevention.

Figure 2: The campaign logo for Be a Hero-Transport Zero™.

The target of this campaign is recreational water users – boaters, anglers, waterfowl hunters, and others who enjoy Illinois’ waters – who might unknowingly spread these species from one body of water to another. When people trailer their boats or move their gear after a day on the water, they may be carrying AIS that could accidentally be introduced into a new waterbody. The campaign message emphasizes three simple actions to help prevent this from happening—remove plants, animals, and mud from all equipment, drain all water from your boat and gear, and dry everything thoroughly with a towel.

Figure 3: Television commercial promoting the Be A Hero-Transport Zero™ campaign.

Since its widespread release in May 2013, Be a Hero-Transport Zero™ has reached an impressive number of people in Illinois:

Via in-person events like talks to fishing clubs, booths at boat shows, and the Clean Boats Crew program, over 11,000 recreational water users have been exposed to AIS issues and the ways in which they can prevent the introduction and spread of AIS.
Television commercials, print ads in Outdoor Illinois News, radio spots statewide on WGN and CBS radio, and online advertising on the Chicago Tribune, NBCSports, and WGN websites resulted in over 150 million exposures to the campaign message.
The campaign website had over 7,000 visitors, which tells us that many people are motivated to learn more about how they can help prevent the spread of AIS.

A recent survey conducted by INHS’s Human Dimensions Research Program indicated that the Be A Hero-Transport Zero™ campaign is effective. Nearly 90% of those surveyed could correctly interpret the AIS prevention message represented by the logo. Even more promising is the fact that people who had previously seen or heard the campaign message were significantly more likely to always remove and drain. These data are very encouraging, and indicate that the public is getting the message that their actions are important in the fight against AIS.

This campaign is designed to address the spread of invasive species on land as well. The Be a Hero-Transport Zero™ logo has also been adapted for terrestrial invasive plants (such as garlic mustard) and forest pests (such as the emerald ash borer). Ultimately, Be A Hero-Transport Zero™ will convey a unifying message to anyone who boats, hikes, camps, fishes, or hunts in Illinois that invasive species aren’t good for Illinois’ economy or environment and that their actions can and do make a difference. As the campaign progresses, look for the Be A Hero-Transport Zero™ message at trailheads, on signage, and in hunting guides and pamphlets at natural areas throughout the state.

Figure 4: The complete set of “Be a Hero” AIS prevention campaign logos. From left to right: aquatic transport. terrestrial transport, and release.

To round out our efforts, and truly make “Be a Hero” Illinois’ comprehensive invasive species campaign, we’re also gearing up to launch Be a Hero-Release Zero™. This expansion of the campaign introduces water gardeners, aquarium hobbyists, and others who buy and sell species to safe alternatives to disposing of unwanted plants and animals. Releasing plants and animals into nearby waterways might seem like a humane way to deal with the goldfish that’s outgrown his tank or the plants that have spread too thickly in your water garden, but this action could be unknowingly spreading invaders from one waterbody into another. The Be a Hero-Release Zero™ message encourages gardeners and hobbyists to instead bag and place plants in the trash, find a new home for animals (or seek advice on humane disposal), and disinfect or properly dispose of water.

For more information about the Be a Hero-Transport Zero campaign, visit our website at transportzero.org. Look for information about prevention tips for hikers, campers, and other recreationists, as well as information about the Release Zero campaign coming soon.

Sarah Zack is an aquatic invasive species specialist with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Illinois Natural History Survey. Please check out the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant website for information about aquatic invasive species in Illinois, or contact Sarah at szack@illinois.edu for more information

Phenology Report for May 18, 2015

2015-05-18T07:19:00.006-07:00

Phenology Report for May 18, 2015*

(Contributors include Mike Davis, Nick Seaton, Caleb Grantham, Eric Smith, Scott Schirmer, Cathy McGlynn, and Kathleen Garness)
*Report based upon observations between May 11-15, 2015

Southern Illinois

Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora and bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii - These two common woody shrub species are in full bloom. Spring leaf expansion is complete and the plants are susceptible to herbicide treatments (both foliar and cut stump work at this time of year). Since both species do attract pollinators, it is recommended that you wait until the blooms have diminished before any foliar applications of herbicide.
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica - this invasive plant is blooming now. This species has a very long bloom window and can flower from now through the summer and fall, even into early winter.
Autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata and Callery pear, Pyrus calleryana - These invasive shrubs/small trees are both past flowering and have small, unripe fruits. They are both susceptible to herbicide treatments at this point in development.
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata - This herbaceous woodland invader is nearly finished blooming and now mostly has green, unripe fruit pods. Herbicide treatments are not effective at this developmental stage. Instead, hand pull, bag, and remove plants.
Sweet clover, Melilotus sp. and Sericea lespedeza, Lespedeza cuneata - both of these invasive members of the bean family are starting vigorous growth. Sweet clover is in full flower. Sericea lespedeza is not flowering yet but is in some place about knee high. Look for these species growing in open areas, prairies, pastures, and roadsides.
Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum - this annual grass species started germinating about three weeks ago and is now several inches high. As the temperatures increase, expect the growth rate of this plant to drastically increase. While the plants can be easily killed at this time of year, subsequent germination can still occur. Either plan on coming back at a later date for follow up treatments or hold off on treatments until mid-late summer.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum and Wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa - Both of these are biennial members of the carrot family. Poison hemlock is flowering at this point and wild parsnip is just starting to come into flower. Herbicide treatments can still be effective at this point, but watch poison hemlock and stop applying herbicides when the flowers start to turn into fruit.
Reed Canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea - This perennial grass species is just starting to flower. Now is a great time of year to control this species with an herbicide application. Keep in mind that this species often grows in wet areas. If so, an aquatic-labelled herbicide should be used.
Crow vetch, Securigera varia - This perennial herbaceous vine is just starting to bloom. You can find this plant along many roadsides in the region.

Central Illinois

Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata - This biennial invasive plant is in full flower right now but many are starting to show the seed pods. While herbicides could still be effective at this point with so few seed pods, it may be more effective to hand pull, bag, and remove plants.
Sweet clover, Melilotus sp. - is starting to bolt but is still low and "bushy" looking with no flowers yet. This is a great time of year to treat this species, taking care to avoid non-target impacts. UPDATE: On 5-18, Sweet clover was just starting to come into flower in this region.
Dame's Rocket, Hesperis matronalis - Is in full flower right now, but no seed pods have been observed yet. As with garlic mustard, the best method of control when the plants are in full flower is to hand pull, bag, and remove all plants.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum and Wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa - both of these biennial plants are bolting but neither is flowering as of yet, though they are close. This is the ideal time to treat them.
Crown vetch, Securigera varia - This perennial herbaceous vine is growing quickly, but no flowers as of yet.
Bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii and Autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata - These woody invasive shrubs are both flowering, but no fruit formation as of yet. Spring leaf expansion is complete and the plants are susceptible to herbicide treatments (both foliar and cut stump work at this time of year). Since both species do attract pollinators, it is recommended that you wait until the blooms have diminished before any foliar applications of herbicide.
Star of Bethlehem,Ornithogalum umbellatum - This weedy low growing plant is in full flower, but is past peak. Flowering should end soon.

Northern Illinois

Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata - This biennial invasive plant is in full flower right now and just starting to develop seed pods. While herbicides could still be effective at this point with so few seed pods, it may be more effective to hand pull, bag, and remove plants.
Yellow rocket, Barbarea vulgaris - This weedy mustard is in full bloom now. You can see this plant in roadsides, old fields, and other open areas.
Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense - This perennial thistle is starting to grow but not yet near bloom. Bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare, and teasel, Dipsacus sp., rosettes are apparent but not near blooming.
Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea - This perennial grass is starting to mature but not in flower yet. The best time of year to control this species with an herbicide application is just at the point of flowering. Keep in mind that this species often grows in wet areas. If so, an aquatic-labelled herbicide should be used.
Common buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica - This woody invasive shrub/small tree is fully leafed out. Spring leaf expansion is complete and the plants are susceptible to herbicide treatments (both foliar and cut stump work at this time of year).
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica - this woody invasive vine is just starting to bloom. This species has a very long bloom window and can flower from now through the summer and fall, even into early winter.
Bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii and Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii - These woody invasive shrubs are both in bloom right now. Spring leaf expansion is complete and the plants are susceptible to herbicide treatments (both foliar and cut stump work at this time of year).
Leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula - This herbaceous plant is in full bloom.

ISAM History - by the Numbers

2015-05-11T09:57:00.002-07:00

Now that the calendars have turned to May, it is time to welcome everyone to Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month. This is the sixth year now for ISAM in Illinois and it only continues to grow. That first year (2010) a total of 70 events were held. This year, we have over 160 events on the calendar with more still being added!

Now that ISAM is becoming an established tradition in Illinois, this is a good time to look back at some of the history of Invasive Species Awareness Month, the effort and groups involved in getting it started, and the types of events held as part of ISAM.

The idea of Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month was developed by the River to River CWMA steering committee in 2009. Originally ISAM was going to be only a southern Illinois initiative (since that is the area covered by River to River CWMA), but the idea was brought to the Illinois Invasive Plant Species Council in the fall of 2010 and was met with enthusiasm to take it statewide.

Support letters were written, a website, blog, and Facebook page created and we were off to the races!

May was chosen as the perfect month for ISAM for two reasons, 1. it fit throughout the state as a month that volunteer workdays are happening (in particular garlic mustard pulls) and 2. school is still in session and the group wanted to make sure school classes had an opportunity to participate.

Through six years of Invasive Species Awareness Month, we've accumulated quite impressive statistics. Below are some highlights of ISAM, by the numbers.

ISAM by the numbers:

2010 - First year for ISAM

66,036 - Number of pageviews the ISAM blog (http://illinoisisam.blogspot.com/) has received since it came online on April 21, 2010

569 - total number of events held over the six years of ISAM
('10 - 70, '11 - 64, '12 - 64, '13 - 84, '14 - 123, '15 - 164)

110 - People signed up to attend this year's Illinois Invasive Species Symposium

41 - Number of Great Garlic Mustard Event volunteer workdays planned by the East Central Illinois Invasive Plant Taskforce over the last two years

35 - Organizations that submitted letters of support for the initial establishment of Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month

21 - Individuals, organizations or projects that have received an Illinois Invasive Species Award

Phenology Report for April 14, 2015

2015-04-14T10:23:00.001-07:00

Phenology Report for April 14, 2015*

(Contributors include Cathy McGlynn, Mike Daab, Caleb Grantham, Nick Seaton, and Eric Smith, )
*Report based upon observations between April 8-14, 2015

Southern Illinois

Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora and bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii - These two common woody shrub species are actively expanding their leaves right now and are nearing full leaf expansion. This is not the time of year to treat these species with chemicals. Wait until the leaves have fully expanded before conducting cut stump or foliar applications.
Autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata - This species is actively expanding its leaves and starting to flower. This is not the time of year to treat this species with chemicals. Wait until the leaves have fully expanded before conducting cut stump or foliar applications.
Callery (Bradford) pear, Pyrus calleryana - This species is past peak for flowering. Many of the plants still have flowers on them but the leaves are expanding now as the flowers fade. It is still a great time of year to find and report new populations. Look for this species along roadsides, rights-of-way, and other open habitats.
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata - Garlic mustard is bolting right now and starting to bloom. If a population is bolting but not flowering, it can still be treated with herbicide. Once the population starts flowering heavily, you best option is to hand pull, bag, and remove the plants.
Italian arum, Arum italicum - Is starting to actively grow. New succulent leaves can be found. This new invader is showing up in land within and adjacent to urban areas.

Central Illinois

Bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii; autumn olive, Elaeagnus umbellata; and Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica - These woody species are starting to leaf out, moving towards mid-leaf expansion. This is not the time of year to treat these species with chemicals. Wait until the leaves have fully expanded before conducting cut stump or foliar applications.
Callery (Bradford) pear, Pyrus calleryana - This species is beginning to flower now. This is the perfect time of year to survey and find new populations of this plant. Look for this species along roadsides, rights-of-way, and other open habitats.
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata - Garlic mustard is not yet starting to bolt in Central Illinois but is expected to soon. These populations can be treated with herbicides or hand-pulled. Once the populations start to flower heavily, then hand pull, bag, and remove the plants.

Northern Illinois

Lesser celandine, Ranunculus ficaria - This new invader is starting to bloom. The bright yellow flowers blooming in low woods are easily spotted this time of year. Be sure to verify identification, as there are native wildflowers that bloom in early spring that could be confused with this species.
Japanese barberry, Berberis thungbergii and goutweed, Aegopodium podagraria - These two invaders are actively expanding their leaves right now.

2015 Illinois Invasive Species Symposium - May 28th in Champaign, IL

2015-04-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

As the culminating event of 2015 Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month, the Illinois Invasive Species Symposium promises to be a great opportunity to learn more about what is happening on the invasive species front throughout Illinois. The Illinois Invasive Species Symposium is a one-day, all-taxa symposium that features talks on current and emerging issues surrounding invasive plants, diseases, insects, and animals in Illinois. Also including in the symposium is a ceremony for this year's Invasive Species Awareness Month Award winners.

This year's symposium will be held on May 28th from 9:30am - 4pm at the University of Illinois Extension Office in Champaign. The symposium is free and open to the public. We are planning on a live webcast of all presentations again this year, so check back for details on this as we get closer to the date.

*UPDATE - Onsite registration for the symposium is now full. You can view a live webcast of the symposium at https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/University+of+Illinois+Live/1_co83enap

More information on the symposium can be found at: http://www.invasive.org/illinois/2015InvasiveSpeciesSymposium.html

Recordings of last year's symposium can be found at: http://www.invasive.org/illinois/2014InvasiveSpeciesSymposium.html

Japanese stiltgrass found in Iowa

2015-03-26T14:33:00.003-07:00

Last fall, an infestation of Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) was found in Johnson County Iowa. This represents that first time this species has been found in that state and the furthest Northwest it has been found.

Even though stiltgrass is an annual plant that ‘comes on’ primarily in the summer, it can still be identified this time of year by the thatch. New germinates will start in late spring / early summer.

Below is a link to a document on the identification of stiltgrass that you might find useful –

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1457/ANR-1457.pdf

Lastly, if you do know of or find infestations of stiltgrass in areas that are not indicated on this map, please enter the record into EDDMapS at www.eddmaps.org. Just from looking at the map, I would think the Mississippi River corridor between Illinois and Missouri is a prime spot to find new infestations.

Job Announcement - Invasive Species Project Coordinator - River to River CWMA

2015-03-26T13:33:00.003-07:00

The Shawnee Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc.

River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area

Job Description

Position Title: River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area Project Coordinator

Salary: $3,700 - $5,800 per month

Location: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Marion, IL

Closing Date: 4/17/2015

Essential Functions

The River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area Project Coordinator (PC) is a full-time contract position. As this is a contract position, benefits are not included. Contract work is secured through June 2017. The PC serves as the coordinator of the River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area, a joint project of 13 Steering Committee members (see table below). The PC’s office is based at the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters in Marion, IL but work will be conducted throughout the entire CWMA area. This position takes lead responsibility for the CWMA, providing oversight and support for the implementation of CWMA projects and further development to achieve the mission of the CWMA. The CWMA’s mission is to establish a framework for cooperatively addressing the effects of non-native invasive plants across jurisdictional boundaries within the 11 southern counties (Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Williamson, and Union) in Illinois. To learn more about the CWMA, visit www.rtrcwma.org.

River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area Steering Committee Members
Illinois Department of Natural Resources	USDA Forest Service - Shawnee National Forest
USFWS-Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge	USFWS-Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
USFWS-Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge	USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service	Illinois Department of Transportation
Illinois Department of Agriculture	Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
University of Illinois Extension	The Nature Conservancy
Shawnee Resource Conservation and Development Area, INC.

The coordinator will work as part of the CWMA Steering Committee to provide oversight and support for the planning and implementation of projects to achieve the mission of the CWMA. The coordinator has primary responsibility for completed project deliverables on existing grant-funded projects. The coordinator also works with public agencies, conservation groups, and private landowners to advance the CWMA and ensure abatement of invasive plant species threats to the Cooperative Weed Management Area. The CWMA Project Coordinator does not currently supervise other employees but does help direct the contractual work of others.

Specific Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management or related area and 1 to 2 years related experience or equivalent combination. Additional education may be substituted for experience.
Proven effectiveness in working with public agencies and other land managers.
Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills; ability to persuasively convey the CWMA mission to diverse groups including elected officials, donors, agencies, the public and others. Working knowledge of invasive species prevention, early detection, containment and control techniques.
An in-depth understanding of the ecological impacts of invasive species.
Demonstrated ability to secure funding.

Specific Duties

Coordinate CWMA steering committee meetings and other meetings as needed.
Provide strategic financial and technical assistance to landowners for invasive plant control within the CWMA.
Implement the invasive species control portion of a forest health project that incorporates prescribed fire (in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Prescribed Burn Association) to promote forest health. Work with Master Naturalists, volunteers and the volunteer coordinator to establish the Forest Restoration Support Team (FRST). Conduct workdays and education and outreach events.
Facilitate the implementation of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan’s Invasive Species Campaign within the CWMA.
Provide invasive plant workshops and training sessions for volunteers, landowners, businesses, and agencies. Serve as the point person for collection and dissemination of information on invasive plant species in the CWMA. Disseminate educational material focused on regional invasive species. Prepare new educational materials.
Consult with land management agencies, the Southern Illinois Invasive Species Strike Team, and private landowners on up-to-date control information, regional invasive plant priorities, and application methods.
Develop annual CWMA reports and management plans for priority species.
Identify and seek out available funding opportunities.
Compile, collect, and enter invasive plant distribution data into the EDDMapS mapping system.
Work with CWMA members to continue Early Detection and Rapid Response for new invasive species.
Administer and initiate CWMA initiatives coordinated with local, state, and federal government agencies and other organizations.
Effectively represent the CWMA to the general public, elected and other governmental officials, industry, donors, media and other individuals and organizations.
Facilitate Invasive Species Awareness Month activities and events within the CWMA.
Continue the development of the CWMA website, Facebook page and news blog.
Other duties as assigned by the Steering Committee.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Knowledge of current trends in invasive species policy, management and planning at the local, state, and national scale.
Successful experience in developing, directing and managing multiple projects and implementing strategic project goals.
Management and administration experience, including ability to motivate, lead, meet objectives and manage performance of a large partnership.
Demonstrated experience in MS Office software, database/website development and GIS.

Complexity/Problem Solving

Cultivate the creative ideas of others to identify potential solutions. Experiment to find creative solutions – think outside the box.
Resolve complex issues independently within the project area.
Design, implement, and direct multiple projects within the local area, setting deadlines and ensuring project accountability.

Discretion/Latitude/Decision-making

Make sound decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment.
Act independently within broad program goals.
Decisions will affect other partners within project area and may have project-wide impact.

Responsibility/Oversight – Financial & Supervisory

Serve as project coordinator for CWMA and for some projects; coordinate the work of others.
Financial responsibility includes setting and meeting fundraising goals, i.e. grant preparation, evaluating results, and developing corrective strategies as needed. Responsibility and accountability for meeting CWMA strategic goals and objectives.
Will need to gain cooperation from individuals or groups over whom there is no direct authority in order to accomplish project goals.

Communications/Interpersonal Contacts

Communication and presentations skills; ability to persuasively convey the mission of CWMA to diverse groups including elected officials, donors, steering committee, the public and others. Communicate strategic project goals and objectives.
Work in partnership with other organizations in a collaborative or advisory role.
Prepare and present project proposals, including negotiating with federal, state and local agencies and other organizations to achieve project goals.

Working conditions/Physical effort

Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
Ability to work an irregular schedule including weekends and unpredicted schedule change, travel on short notice.

To apply, send Cover Letter, Resume (including 3 references), and Narrative addressing the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to:

Chris Evans

11731 State Highway 37

Benton, IL 62812

email: Chris.Evans@illinois.gov

fax: 618-439-7376

Note: Electronic submittals are accepted and encouraged. All materials must be received on or before Close of Business on 4/17/2015

For questions, contact Chris Evans at 618.435.8138 X 131 or Chris.Evans@illinois.gov

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2015 First Detector Training Workshop Dates and Locations Announced

2014-12-03T06:54:00.002-08:00

Dec. 2, 2014

Source: Kelly Estes, 217-333.1005, kcook8@illinois.edu
News writer: Stephanie Henry, 217-244-1183, slhenry@illinois.edu

2015 Invasive pest awareness workshops will focus on early detection and response

URBANA, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension has announced the dates for its 2015 Illinois First Detector Invasive Pest Workshops covering important landscape and nursery pests, diseases, and invasive plants. Workshops will be offered at eight locations in Illinois beginning in January 2015.

Early detection and response is key to managing invasive pests. The Illinois First Detector Workshops, now in their third year, are aimed at improving first detector training and invasive species awareness. The workshops will cover new topics on current and emerging invasive plants, pathogens, and insects. Each location will have sessions covering the brown marmorated stink bug, viruses in ornamental plants, and invasive plants and their management, as well as a session devoted to discussing invasive pest pathways.

“Community involvement is key in the early detection of invasive species. We are very excited about these new workshop topics and look forward to working with participants in learning more about these issues facing our local communities,” said Kelly Estes, state survey coordinator.

As in previous years, these in-depth training sessions will cover material that includes:

Identification/detection
Life cycle/biology
Hosts
Sampling
Management
Commonly confused look-a-likes

Once again, those attending will also take part in hands-on activities, which will allow attendees to examine these pests and diseases in more detail.

The target audience includes certified arborists, tree care professionals, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, forestry and natural resource professionals, conservationists, and others with an interest in trees.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available for: IAA Certified Arborists, Continuing Forestry Education Credits, Master Gardener, and Master Naturalist.

Workshops will be held at the following locations:

Collinsville, Jan. 29 – 618-344-4230
Wheaton, Feb. 3 – 630-584-6166
DeKalb, Feb. 4 – 815-758-8194
Mt. Vernon, Feb. 11 – 618-548-1446
Charleston, Feb. 12 – 217-543-3755
Macomb, Feb. 18 – 309-837-3939
Moline, Feb. 19 – 309-756-9978
Bloomington, Feb. 26 – 309-663-8306

Those interested in attending should contact the host locations above for registration. A $40 non-refundable registration fee covers instruction, on-site lunch, and training materials. Space is limited.

This program and materials are based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement No. 2014-70006-22557and coordinated by Kelly Estes, state survey coordinator, IL CAPS Program at the Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, and Diane Plewa, Plant Clinic diagnostician and outreach coordinator, Department of Crop Sciences. Additional support for this program will be provided by Christopher Evans, the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan - invasive species campaign coordinator, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Scott Schirmer, plant and pesticide specialist supervisor, emerald ash borer program manager, Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Emerald Ash Borer Community Preparedness Workshops in Southern Illinois.

2014-11-03T12:54:00.004-08:00

Recent discoveries of Emerald Ash Borer in Perry and Williamson counties underscore the need for communities to be proactive against Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

The University of Illinois Extension is offering the following programs for local officials, municipalities, park districts, arborists, and others impacted by the recent Emerald Ash Borer findings. The programs will be held at the following locations:

Thursday, November 13
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center
8588 Rte 148 Marion, IL 62959
From 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 13
Perry County Government Building Conference Room
3764 State Rte 13/127
Pinckneyville, IL 62274
From: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday, November 14
Shawnee National Forest
50 Highway 145 South Harrisburg, IL 62946
From 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Workshop participants will learn about emerald ash borer, why it is a threat to our natural forests and urban trees, regulatory implications of the recent discoveries, and how to create a community action plan to manage ash trees on city-owned and private property. This workshop will discuss how to take inventory of all ash trees within a community in order to develop budget needs should large-scale ash tree removal become necessary.

The program is FREE, but reservations are required by November 12. To register call University of Illinois Extension, Jackson county at: 618-687-1727 or register online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/fjprw/

Illinois Stop the Spread! Callery Pear Alternative Tree Demonstration Fall Planting

2014-10-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Behnken, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Dept. of Forestry
Agriculture Building - Mailcode 4411
1205 Lincoln Drive
Carbondale, IL 62901
Phone: 618/435-3341
Fax: 618/453-7475
jbehnken@siu.edu

Illinois Stop the Spread!

Callery Pear Alternative Tree Demonstration Fall Planting

Saturday, November 1, 2014, 9:30am-11:30am

Attucks Park/ Pyles Fork Reserve, 800 N. Wall St. Carbondale, IL

The Callery pear (also known as Bradford pear) is a potentially problematic tree for land managers and residents alike, prone to splitting and demonstrating invasive tendencies. The Illinois Stop the Spread! campaign provides a positive solution to the problem of the Callery pear by identifying and promoting available species of native trees and shrubs which consumers, landscapers, and city planners may select as alternatives. We continue these planting efforts at Attucks Park/Pyles Fork Preserve in Carbondale with the next installment of native trees and shrubs.

Join us in the festivities to see how you can help extend our message and Stop the Spread in Illinois! Come one, come all to view and participate in our planting project! Approximately 20 trees and shrubs of varying species with desirable characteristics to serve as suitable replacements for ornamental pear trees will be planted with volunteers on the first Saturday morning of November 1^st, starting at 9:30am. Sport your favorite pair of work gloves and head on down to Attucks Park to help! There will be a brief overview of tree planting methods followed by the planting itself. Light refreshments will be offered.

This is a volunteer project and as such, we are asking for your help. Please consider donating to Green Earth to supplement our efforts. Funds will be used to offset costs of printing outreach materials which will be free to the public, as well as materials for tree maintenance, such as fertilizer and mulch. Even one dollar can go a long way; all support, personal and businesses alike, is greatly appreciated!

For further inquiries, contact Jennifer Behnken, Southern Illinois University's community forestry coordinator at 618-453-2517 or jbehnken@siu.edu or Karla Gage, coordinator at River to River Weed Cooperative Management Area at 618-998-5920 or rtcwma@gmail.com.

IDOA Monitoring Traps Detect Emerald Ash Borer in Additional Counties

2014-10-07T07:53:00.003-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 6, 2014

CONTACTS: Jeff Squibb 217-558-1546

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive pest responsible for killing millions of ash trees in North America, has been confirmed in 14 new counties, including five that are located outside the current state quarantine zone intended to prevent the spread of the beetle.

“The quarantine boundaries obviously will have to be amended to include the new detections in Logan, Menard, Perry, Sangamon and Williamson counties, as well as two other counties outside the quarantine, Peoria and Tazewell, where EAB was detected for the first time earlier this year,” Warren Goetsch, Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau Chief of Environmental Programs, said. “We will do that after all of our findings are in, which should be by November.”

The new discoveries were made by Illinois Department of Agriculture employees as they retrieved and analyzed the many purple traps the department placed across the state to detect the presence of the tiny beetle, which is known for its distinctive, metallic green, wing color.

In Logan County, the ash borer was found on North St. in Atlanta.
In Menard, it was discovered at Deerpath Lane and Oakland Ave. in Petersburg.
The Perry County find was made on Reed Rd. in Du Quoin.
In Sangamon County, the trap was located in an ash tree on Reynolds St. near Douglas Park.
And, in Williamson County, it was detected on McDonald St. in Marion.

The EAB traps also led to new confirmations in eight counties within the quarantine. Those counties are Coles, Douglas, Ford, Marshall, Piatt, Shelby, Warren and Woodford. An additional detection was made in Edgar County by an Eastern Illinois University professor and later confirmed through samples collected by IDOA staff.

Newly-infested counties are encouraged to begin putting the quarantine restrictions into practice.

“Residents, businesses and municipalities should familiarize themselves with the regulations in anticipation of being included in the quarantine,” EAB program manager Scott Schirmer said. “I would recommend they study management options as well to help establish plans and budgets for addressing their infestations.”

The emerald ash borer is native to Asia. Its larvae burrow into the bark of ash trees, causing the trees to starve and eventually die. Since the first detection of the pest near Detroit, Mich., in 2002, it has killed more than 250 million ash trees.

The tiny beetle often is difficult to detect, especially in newly-infested trees. Signs of infestation include thinning and yellowing leaves, D-shaped holes in the bark of the trunk or branches and basal shoots. Anyone who suspects an ash tree has been infested should contact their county Extension office, their village forester or the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

The state quarantine currently includes 49 Illinois counties and is intended to prevent the artificial or “human-assisted” spread of the beetle through the movement of potentially-infested wood and nursery stock. Specifically, it prohibits the removal of the following items:

The emerald ash borer in any living stage of development.
Ash trees of any size.
Ash limbs and branches.
Any cut, non-coniferous firewood.
Bark from ash trees and wood chips larger than one inch from ash trees.
Ash logs and lumber with either the bark or the outer one-inch of sapwood, or both, attached.
Any item made from or containing the wood of the ash tree that is capable of spreading the emerald ash borer.
Any other article, product or means of conveyance determined by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to present a risk of spreading the beetle infestation.

The counties currently under quarantine are Boone, Bureau, Champaign, Carroll, Clark, Coles, Cook, Cumberland, DeKalb, DeWitt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Marshall, McHenry, McLean, Mercer, Moultrie, Ogle, Piatt, Putnam, Rock Island, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Vermilion, Warren, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

For further information about the beetle, visit www.IllinoisEAB.com on the internet.

###

Illinois Regulated Plant Species

2014-09-18T10:51:00.001-07:00

Illinois has several laws that regulate the sale, purchase, planting, and transport of plant species. Below is a composite list of all of the regulated species in Illinois (with the exception of species listed on the Illinois seed law, which only regulates seeds and seed mixtures)

List of Regulated Species in Illinois

E = Exotic Weed Species (Illinois Exotic Weed Act (525 ILCS 10/))

I = Injurious Species (Illinois Injurious Species Rule (17 IAC Sec. 805))

N= Noxious Species (Illinois Noxious Weed Law (505 ILCS 100/))

Common ragweed* Ambrosia artemisiifolia, ^N

Giant ragweed* Ambrosia trifida, ^N

* Ragweeds are only regulated within the corporate limits of cities, villages, and incorporated towns;

Mosquito fern Azolla pinnata, ^I

Flowering rush Butomus umbellatus, ^I

Marijuana Cannabis sativa, ^N

Musk thistle Carduus nutans, ^N

Mediterranean killer algae Caulerpa taxifolia, ^I

Canada thistle Cirsium arvense, ^N

Brazilian elodea Egeria densa (syn. Elodea densa), ^I

Anchored water hyacinth Eichhornia azurea, ^I

Glossy
buckthorn                           Frangula
alnus

, ^E

Hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata, ^I

European frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, ^I

Miramar weed Hygrophilia polysperma, ^I

Chinese waterspinach Ipomoea aquatica, ^I

Yellow flag iris Iris pseudacorus, ^I

Oxygen weed Lagarosiphon major, ^I

Asian marshweed/ambulia Limnophila sessiliflora, ^I

Japanese
honeysuckle                  Lonicera japonica

, ^E

Purple
loosestrife                          Lythrum
salicaria

, ^E

Arrowleaf Monochoria hastata, ^I

Heartshape pickerelweed Monochoria vaginalis, ^I

Parrot feather Myriophyllum aquaticum, ^I

Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum, ^I

Brittle naiad Najas minor, ^I

Yellow floating heart Nymphoides peltata, ^I

Duck lettuce Ottelia alismoides, ^I

Curlyleaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus, ^I

Kudzu
                                                  Pueraria
montana

, ^E,N

Saw‑toothed
buckthorn               Rhamnus arguta

, ^E

Common
buckthorn                       Rhamnus cathartica

, ^E

Dahurian
buckthorn                      Rhamnus
davurica

, ^E

Japanese
buckthorn                       Rhamnus
japonica

, ^E

Chinese
buckthorn                         Rhamnus
utilis

, ^E

Multiflora
rose                                 Rosa
multiflora

, ^E

Arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia, ^I

Giant salvinia Salvinia auriculata, ^I

Giant salvinia Salvinia biloba, ^I

Giant salvinia Salvinia herzogii, ^I

Giant salvinia Salvinia molesta, ^I

Perennial sowthistle Sonchus arvensis, ^N

Sorghum* Sorghum almum, ^N

* includes other Johnsongrass X sorghum crosses with rhizomes

Johnsongrass Sorghum halepense, ^N

Exotic bur-reed Sparganium erectum, ^I

Water chestnut Trapa natans, ^I

In addition, the Illinois Invasive Plant Species Council has assessed and is formally recommending the following plants for regulation (they are not yet regulated species):

Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus

Poison hemlock Conium maculatum

Exotic olives Elaeagnus umbellata, E. pungens, E. angustifolia

Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum

Exotic bush honeysuckles Lonicera maackii, L. tatarica, L. morrowii, L. fragrantissima

Lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria (syn. Ficaria verna)

Salt cedar Tamarix sp.

Strange things happen to guys who wear pants - plant seed transport article

2014-09-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

"Birds, bats and bees might be the most famous plant pollinators, but seeds like to hitchhike on clothing, making us surprisingly good seed carriers."

National Public Radio has a very interesting article on the ability of humans to move seeds around. Complete with video clips. You can read the article at:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/05/12/136211607/strange-things-happen-to-guys-who-wear-pants?sc=fb&cc=fp

Is Stiltgrass Killing our Toads? Yes, but indirectly.

2014-08-28T10:21:00.001-07:00

Japanese stiltgrass infestation

Invasive plant impacts on native plant species and on community structure is well documented. Invasive plants direct-impacts on native wildlife through reduction in forage availability is also fairly straightforward. What is less understood is the more complex indirect-impacts on wildlife from invasion by exotic plant species.

We've discussed these types of indirect-impacts to wildlife from invasive plants here on this blog several times. Buckthorn infestations alter the distribution and movement patterns of predators, contributing to the decline of amphibians in the upper Midwest LINK. Bush honeysuckle can change the competition balance in amphibians, leading to dominance by one native species, to the detriment of many other species LINK. Invasive plants of prairies, such as knapweed and leafy spurge, alter the habitat structure in such a way that promotes increased web building by native spiders, leading to a trophic cascade that impacts native flora and fauna by throwing everything out of balance LINK. In a presentation at this year's Illinois Invasive Species Symposium, Dr. Matt Allender indicated that the reduction in habitat quality from invasive plant species could be contributing to the decline in health and wellness for box turtles, which makes them more susceptible to diseases LINK.

Of course, sometimes our native wildlife can facilitate invasive plants, as is the case with deer and garlic mustard LINK.

A recent article published in the journal Ecology brought to light evidence that Japanes stiltgrass is indirectly leading to increased mortality of young toads. Worse yet, this indirect impact is greatest felt in forests, a preferred habitat for young toads and traditionally a stronghold for survivorship. Now habitat that once was a source, could be a sink.

So how and why is this happening? Basically stiltgrass infestations are superb habitat for wolf spiders and wolf spiders are super predators and they love to eat young toads. So more stiltgrass = more wolf spiders = less toads. A press release published in Science Daily (LINK) elaborates:

Spiders are incredible predators, Maerz explained, and they eat everything -- even other spiders. That typically keeps spider populations in check, Maerz said, but Japanese stiltgrass is "kind of like a tall shag carpet," and it provides the cannibalistic spiders refuge from one another. The accumulation of large, predatory spiders in these invaded habitats then results in higher mortality for small toads that have recently emerged from wetlands... spider densities were 33 percent higher and toad survival decreased by 65 percent... with the presence of stiltgrass. The presence of stiltgrass alone, in the absence of spiders, did not affect toad survival. "Spiders are actually tremendously important and incredibly abundant predators on the forest floor, and they will eat many of the small species that live there, so this effect is unlikely to only influence toads,"

This research made the cover of the journal Ecology and for good reason! Just to notice and speculate about this type of interaction is impressive enough, but then to design a study that teases out other impacts and clearly demonstrates this important impact and result from invasion is admirable.

The citation for the research is:

Jayna L. DeVore, John C. Maerz. Grass invasion increases top-down pressure on an amphibian via structurally mediated effects on an intraguild predator. Ecology, 2014; 95 (7): 1724

Amphibians, as a suite of species, are in global decline. This trend holds true here in Illinois as well. Water pollution, climate change, and habitat loss are all contributing to this decline and now we are starting to understand that invasive plants not only impact forage availablity for wildlife but, in addition, can cause much more complex changes to invaded areas that are not as easy to understand or mitigate. We need more research like this. We need to understand these impacts, just to allow us to be able to prioritize our control efforts and develop practices and protocols to better manage our native wildlife.

Invasive brush gives way to 500 volunteers

2014-08-26T06:49:00.002-07:00

The La Salle News Tribune recently published a nice article about the Conservation Foundation partnership with a for-profit company to remove invasive species from Dayton Bluffs Preserve.

The original article can be found HERE.

Invasive brush gives way to 500 volunteers

The buckthorn and honeysuckle didn’t stand a chance last Tuesday against an army of more than 500 volunteers at Dayton Bluffs Preserve on the east side of Ottawa. The Conservation Foundation bought this 253-acre property last year and has been chipping away at restoration, which mostly means cutting and killing non-native plants in favor of native species.

On Tuesday, it had a little help from Fairmount Santrol, which has sand operations in the area and was holding a sustainability summit this week in Schaumburg. Fairmount bused attendees and equipment to Dayton Bluffs for a “Day of Caring” volunteer effort.

After getting coached on how to identify and cut buckthorn and honeysuckle, they went at it. “We had to run up to the store to get more loppers for them to use,” said Beth Lestock, Fairmount corporate sustainability development coordinator from Chesterland, Ohio. The army included employees and corporate partners of Fairmount, about 540 in all, with some from Mexico, Denmark and China, Lestock said.

“It’s just incredible,” said Tara Neff of The Conservation Foundation. “It’s like an Army Corps.”

The mound of invasive shrubbery grew taller and was hauled to wood chippers, also supplied by Fairmount. The work was not window dressing. It was to remove a scourge. Other professional crews joined the effort, sawing down honeysuckle and buckthorn hugging the light-rich zone along the woodland edge.

This will allow native species to grow, said Jeff Duncan, a volunteer with The Conservation Foundation.

“We pretty much try to keep the invasives out and let the natives come back on their own,” Duncan said.

The roots, seedlings and seeds of the natives are already there, waiting for opportunity, he said.

“We just need to give them more sunlight rather than force something to live there that wouldn’t normally live there,” Duncan said.

The Conservation Foundation purchased the property last year for $2 million and is leasing it to the City of Ottawa to manage as a public preserve.

Jeff Dankert can be reached at (815) 220-6977 or perureporter@newstrib.com. Follow him on Twitter @NT_Peru.

New Sprayer Calibration Calculator App

2014-08-18T09:29:00.001-07:00

The University of Illinois is introducing the new Sprayer Calibration Calculator App developed by Scott Bretthauer, Extension Specialist, Pesticide Safety Education.

This app assists applicators in calibrating a pesticide sprayer. The app can be used for aerial, ground, turf, and boomless applications. It includes functions for determining the required nozzle flow rate, splitting that flow rate among different orifice sizes on an aerial boom, and calculating a required pressure to achieve a specific flow rate.

It also has a function to convert values and rates for some commonly encountered variables and to determine maximum and minimum operating speeds based on nozzle capacity.

It is available for free in both Apple iOS and Android formats.

Apple iOS - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sprayer-calibration-calculator/id899216316?mt=8
Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.illinois.extension.spraycalculator&hl=en

Asian Carp vs. Commercial Fishermen 2.5M lbs of carp now out of Illinois

2014-07-22T07:50:00.001-07:00

It’s been four years since the discovery of an Asian carp between the electric barriers and Lake Michigan. That’s when the state went into emergency mode. They hired a select group of Illinois commercial fishermen. And as our Nancy Loo reports, they’ve now taken two-and-a-half MILLION pounds of Asian carp out of Illinois waterways. In the backwaters of the Illinois River near Starved Rock State Park, there are fewer Asian carp jumping this year...

See the full story and watch a video at:
http://wgntv.com/2014/07/21/asian-carp-vs-commercial-fishermen/

Phenology Report for July 15, 2014

2014-07-15T11:57:00.001-07:00

Phenology Report for July 15, 2014*

(Contributors include Cathy McGlynn, Mike Davis, Karla Gage, Paul Bane, and David Crady)
*Report based upon observations between July 10-15, 2014

Southern Illinois

Teasel, Dipsacus follonum and D. laciniatus - Teasel is in full bloom right now. You can see both the purple flowering common teasel and the white flowering cut-leaf teasel along roadsides and in old fields.
Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria - Purple loosestrife is starting to bloom in southern Illinois.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum – Poison hemlock has finished flowering and the seeds are starting to dry as the plants senesce.
Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea – Reed canarygrass is in full bloom right now. It can be found in open, wet areas.
Johnsongrass, Sorghum halapense - Johnsongrass is in full bloom right now in southern Illinois. Look for it in roadsides and other open, disturbed areas.
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata - Garlic mustard fruits are drying and seeds are falling off of the plant, making it extremely easy to spread garlic mustard. Take care to clean you shoes and check your pant cuffs after walking through an area with garlic mustard. Interestingly, several populations of garlic mustard still had a few flowers, even when fruits were drying lower down on the plant.
Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum - Stiltgrass is starting its rapid summer growth, but has not yet begun to flower. Now is a good time to consider treatments.

Central Illinois

Wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa – All wild parsnip plants are seeding. Much of the seed is darkening, but not much is falling to the ground yet.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum – Poison hemlock is done flowering in central Illinois. For the most part, seds haven't matured yet (all seeds seen are yellowish-green) but are getting close..
Canada and Bull thistle, Cirsium arvense and C. vulgare – Canada thistle is seeding and the see is starting to fly off. Bull thistle is just beginning to form a head, but not flowers yet.
Yellow and white sweet clovers, Melilotus spp. –Yellow sweet clover has many going to seed with very few showing flowers; seeds are dark and beginning to fall. White sweet clover still has plenty with flowers. For those beginning to seed, the seeds still look very green.
Cutleaf teasel, Dipsacus laciniatus – Teasel is starting to form heads, but no flowers have been seen yet.
Bouncing bet, Saponaria officinalis - Bouncing bet is just flowering now, the perfect time to control it.

Northeast Illinois

Cutleaf teasel, Dipsacus laciniatus - Teasel buds have formed and plants will likely be blooming within the next two weeks.
Queen Anne's lace, Daucus carota - Queen Anne's lace is in full bloom. Look for this plant along roadsides, in pastures, and other open, grassy areas.
Orange daylily, Hemerocallis fulva - Daylilies are in full bloom right now. These plants spread from remnant plantings and can be found in open areas.
Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria - Purple loosestrife is just starting to bloom in the wetlands of Northeast Illinois.
** Update - Donald Wilson reports Wild Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa, is also in bloom in NE IL

Northwest Illinois

Yellow and white sweet clovers, Melilotus spp. - White sweet clover has finished flowering, with about 25% in seed and the rest will be in seed soon. All yellow sweet clover is in seed.
Bush honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii - Bush honeysuckle is beginning to go to fruit.
Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii - Japanese barberry has not yet flowered. Keep an eye out for this plant in wooded areas throughout the region.
Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora - Multiflora rose buds have begun to form in the woods. Look for this plant to flower soon.

Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD), deadly to Black Walnuts, found in Indiana

2014-06-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) was recently discovered in Brown County, Indiana. For a news article on the find go HERE.

Thousand Cankers Disease is a serious threat to Black Walnuts throughout the Eastern United States, including Illinois. This disease is native to southwestern United States, where it is a minor pest on the native western walnuts, but it is deadly to the Black Walnut, native to the Eastern United States. This is both a huge ecological and economic threat because of the importance of Black Walnut in our forested ecosystems and its high value as a timber product.

The diease has now been found in seven eastern states. Surveys in Illinois have not found any Thousand Cankers Disease to date. Illinois has external quarantines set up to restrict the importation of Black Walnut material from states with TCD. Please check with the Illinois Department of Agriculture for more details about the quarantines.

The fungus, Geosmithia morbida, typically associates with the Walnut Twig Beetle. This tiny beetle spreads the fungus from tree to tree. What is particularly scary about the discovery of the fungus in Indiana is that it was discovered on weevils, making it the first time the fungus was found associated with an insect other than the Walnut Twig Beetle.

Additional information from Illinois about TCD can be found at:
http://www.agr.state.il.us/Environment/Pest/tcd/TCD.pdf and
http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/files/3613/7484/6967/TCD_ID_TO_PRINT_handout_IL_version.pdf

Phenology Report for June 16, 2014

2014-06-16T09:35:00.004-07:00

Phenology Report for June 16, 2014*

(Contributors include Cathy McGlynn, Karla Gage, Marilyn Leger, Eric Smith, Mike Davis, Matt Balk, Paul Bane, David Crady, and Mike Daab)
*Report based upon observations between June 5-16, 2014

Southern Illinois

Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata - Second-year plants are senescing, becoming chlorotic; siliques have matured and seeds are hardening. Seeds have not yet begun to dehisce as of June 3. Once this occurs, contact with the plant is not advised because seed are easily spread.
Bush honeysuckles, Lonicera maackii and L. morrowii - Amur honeysuckle has passed flowering stage and the fruits are beginning to form, still small. Morrow's honeysuckle has bloomed and now has bright red and orange fruits.
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica – Japanese honeysuckle is in full flower now.
Border privet, Ligustrum obtusifolium - Flowering stage has passed peak and fruits are beginning to form.
Purple wintercreeper, Euonymus fortuneii - Plants that have enough available light (high in tree canopies or in open wooded edges) are producing flower buds.
Chinese yam, Dioscorea polystachya, syn. D. oppositifolia - Plants are beginning to produce flower buds. The beginning of bulbil production still has not been observed. Plants are climbing rapidly into the tree canopy as new plants continue to emerge from last year's bulbils.
Teasel, Dipsacus follonum and D. laciniatus - Teasel is bolting and almost at the stage of flowering. In fact, you could likely find a few plants already in flower
Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum – Stiltgrass is 4-5 inches tall and getting ready to start its rapid summer growth. Look for it to rapidly increase in height over the next few weeks.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum – Poison hemlock has been in full flower but many of the flower heads are starting to fade and produce seeds.

Southeast Illinois

Yellow sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis – Yellow sweet clover is in full bloom
Crown vetch, Securigera varia – Crown vetch is in full bloom, along with hairy vetch, Vicia villosa
Cypress spurge, Euphorbia cyparissias – Cypress spurge is in full bloom

Central Illinois

Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata – Plants are starting to have darkened seed pods.
Wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa – Wild parsnip is in full flower right now and we have pulled a few that were passed flowering and had immature seeds.
Poison hemlock, Conium maculatum – Poison hemlock is in full bloom but seeds have not been observed yet.
Reed canarygrass, Phalaris arundinacea – Some heads starting to produce seed but all are still light and immature, most are flowering, and some are just sending out their flower stalk.
Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense – Canada thistle is starting to flower fully now. Bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare, is still low to the ground without much of it shooting up the center stalk yet
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica – Vines are just starting to flower in a few areas.
Crown vetch, Securigera varia – Crown vetch has been flowering for a few weeks now, though there is still time yet before it develops seed.
Yellow sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis –Yellow sweet clover is in full flower and some are ending their flowering. Alfalfa and white sweet clover are also beginning to flower out.
Cutleaf teasel, Dipsacus laciniatus – Teasel is starting to bolt. Some that were low to the ground just last week, are now 3 to 4 ft tall.

Northeast Illinois

Bush honeysuckle, Lonicera spp. – Bush honeysuckle has just finished blooming last week. http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/loni1.htm
Dame's Rocket, Hesperis matronalis – Plants have been in bloom for about three weeks. http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/invasiveplants/factsheets/pdf/dames-rocket.pdf
Yellow flag, Iris pseudacorus – Plants have been in bloom for at least a week. http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/weeds/Pages/profile_yflagiris.aspx

Northwest Illinois

Yellow sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis – Plants are beginning to flower but seed pods not completely formed yet. White Sweet Clover is not in flower yet but stands at mature height.
Multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora – Established plants are beginning to flower. Leaves are fully expanded on newer recruitment.
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata – Plants have finished flowering and seed pods have fully developed. In drier spots leaves are beginning to senesce.
Amur honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii – Plants are beginning to flower in dry uplands and are leaves have fully expanded in wetter areas.

Awards given out for outstanding invasive species work in Illinois

2014-06-03T12:29:00.001-07:00

June 2, 2014 Article by Chris Evans, chris.evans@illinois.gov, 618-435-8138

Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month (ISAM) started in May 2010. ISAM is a statewide campaign to increase the public’s awareness and knowledge about invasive species. It provides an opportunity for citizens of Illinois to participate in invasive species awareness events around the state and learn more about what they can do to help fight this threat. This year, over 120 events are being held across the state as part of ISAM.

In 2011, the ISAM committee decided to initiate an awards program to formally recognize and honor outstanding contributions to the prevention, control, and management of invasive species in the state of Illinois. For 2014, The Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month Committee would like to recognize recipients in five categories: Professional of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Professional Organization of the Year, Business of the Year, and Educator of the Year. Recipients of the 2014 ISAM awards were officially recognized at an awards ceremony in Springfield at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) office. IDNR Office of Resource Conservation Director Jim Herkert was on hand to present the awards. The ceremony was part of the 2014 Illinois Invasive Species Symposium on May 29th, 2014 at the IDNR Office Building in Springfield, IL.

2014 ISAM Award recipients. From left: Paul Bane, David Crady and Jeff Horn of the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (accepting the award for Professional Organization of the Year), Gary Knosher of Midwest Groundcovers, LLC (accepting the award for Business of the Year), Marilyn Leger of the East Central Illinois Invasive Plant Taskforce (Volunteer of the Year), Henry Eilers (accepting the award for Susan Shelton for Educator of the Year) and Pat Charlebois of the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (Professional of the Year)

This year’s recipients are:

Professional of the Year – Pat Charlebois, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

Pat is receiving this award for her leadership in aquatic invasive species education, outreach, messaging, and policy throughout the state. Pat’s hard work has contributed significantly to increasing the public’s awareness of aquatic invasive species. Through her efforts, the new “Be a Hero, Transport Zero” campaign is being expanded towards a comprehensive campaign to address all invasive species spread throughout Illinois. In addition, Pat has been instrumental in supporting policy changes, such as the addition of 27 new aquatic plants to the Illinois Injurious Species list.

Professional Organization of the Year – Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation

The Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation is receiving this award for their leadership in invasive species control and natural areas management in northwestern Illinois. Jo Daviess conservation Foundation partnered with other organizations and took on a leadership role in the development, organization and implementation of the Northwest Illinois Invasive Species Strike Team. This team has been responsible for the treatment of over 650 acres of invasive plant populations in natural areas across six northwest Illinois counties.

Volunteer of the Year – Marilyn Leger, East Central Illinois Master Naturalists

Marilyn Leger is receiving this award for her dedication and leadership in invasive species work in east central Illinois and statewide. Marilyn has been a driving force to address invasive species in east central Illinois. Through the local chapter of the Master Naturalists, Marilyn founded and co-chaired the East Central Invasive Plant Task Force. Under her leadership, this task force has organized trainings, published invasive plant educational material and created the ‘Great Garlic Mustard Hunt.’ In addition, Marilyn has been heavily involved in the Illinois Invasive Plant Species Council and has been instrumental in the assessment of plant species

Business of the Year – Midwest Groundcovers, LLC

Midwest Ground Covers, LLC is receiving this award for their leadership in developing the relationship between green industry and conservation. Both Gary Knosher, President and CEO, and Trish Beckjord, Sales Consultant/Native Plant and Green Infrastructure Specialist, have served on board and committees with regional, state, and local organizations that address invasive species. Midwest Groundcovers, LLC’s willingness to work hard to keep the dialogue on invasive species and the green industry open and productive is invaluable to Illinois.

Educator of the Year – Susan Shelton, Litchfield High School

Susan Shelton is receiving this award for her leadership in invasive species education at Litchfield High School. Susan, for the last eight years, has guided her students to volunteers to control invasive plant species. Her classes have assisted the Shoal Creek Volunteers and the Montgomery County Natural Area Guardians to manage local natural areas and remove invasive species. Her efforts have led to over 2,400 volunteer hours contributed to remove invasive species. In addition to the on-the-ground benefits, Susan’s work has guided and taught students to importance of natural areas and management.

New Webinar - Fading Forests: Protecting America’s Trees from Non-native Pests and Diseases

2014-06-02T08:35:00.001-07:00

The Environmental Law Institute and the National Invasive Species Council are co-sponsoring a webinar on June 12th, from 1-3c. The title is Fading Forests: Protecting America’s Trees from Non-native Pests and Diseases.

To register: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/781239327

Americans count on trees and forests to provide shade and shelter, jobs and products, and clean air and water, both today and for generations to come. However, non-native insects and diseases are destroying North American trees and forests. In some cases, entire species of trees are being removed from our forests and neighborhoods, causing economic and environmental costs and reduced quality of life in our communities. In this webinar, the authors of Fading Forests III: American Forests: What Choice Will We Make? will present policy and management options that can protect our trees and forests, followed by comments by a panel of experts from government, industry, and non-governmental organizations.

PRESENTERS:

· Dr. Scott Schlarbaum, Professor, University of Tennessee

· Dr. Faith Campbell, Senior Policy Representative, The Nature Conservancy

COMMENTERS:

· Dr. Richard Sniezko, Center Geneticist, Dorena Genetic Resource Center, U.S. Forest Service

· TBD, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

· Dr. David Rizzo, Professor, University of California at Davis

· TBD, Industry

MODERATOR:

· Read Porter (moderator), Senior Attorney, Director of Invasive Species Program, Environmental Law Institute

2014 Illinois Invasive Species Symposium - now available as a live webcast

2014-05-22T09:50:00.003-07:00

The 2014 Illinois Invasive Species Symposium is now going to be available for viewing as a live webcast.

The webcast can be viewed at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Pages/InvasiveSpeciesSymposiumLiveFeed.aspx

We will be broadcasting from 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM on Thursday, May 29th. If you would like to ask a question during any of the discussions as they are happening, please send an email to Webcast@portal2010.illinois.gov. Following the event, we will be posting the webcast and the results of our discussions on our website for additional public comment.

This event is a one-day, all-taxa symposium that features a great lined up of speakers to give presentations on invasive plants, diseases, insects, and animals.

To see a full list of the day's presentations, please see the agenda HERE.

Illinois Invasive Species Symposium
May 29th, 2014 9:30-4:00
IDNR Office Building - Springfield, IL
One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702

The meeting is free to attend (lunch is on your own) and will include a ceremony for this year's Invasive Species Awareness Month Awards.

While the meeting is no cost and no registration is required, we ask that you let us know if you plan on attending this symposium in person by emailing chris.evans@illinois.gov. Webcast viewers do not need to register, just go to the webcast page during the broadcast times.