National Invasive Species Information Center - What's New

Invasive Carp Research Program / Flooding Disperses Invasive Plant, Fish Species

2012-05-24T20:19:42Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Invasive Carp Research Program / Flooding Disperses Invasive Plant, Fish Species
Asian carp are in direct competition with native aquatic species for food and habitat. Their rapid population increase is disrupting the ecology and food web of the large rivers of the Midwest, including the Missouri River. Last year's hurricanes and flooding not only engulfed homes and carried away roads and bridges in hard-hit areas of the country, it dispersed aggressive invasive species as well.

* See our In the News section for more information and additional resources.

USDA Provides Funding to Cooperators for Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention (May 24, 2012)

2012-05-24T19:35:58Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

USDA Provides Funding to Cooperators for Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention (May 24, 2012)
USDA will support 321 projects in all 50 states that help to prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases threatening U.S. agricultural and the environment. The funding, totaling $50 million, is provided by Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill.

* See our In the News section for more information and additional resources.

Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) Says Online Databases and Smartphone Apps Make It Easier than Ever to Track Invasive Weeds (May 21, 2012)

2012-05-23T16:23:43Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

WSSA Says Online Databases and Smartphone Apps Make It Easier than Ever to Track Invasive Weeds (May 21, 2012)
Online databases and new smartphone applications are making it easier than ever to track and map infestations of invasive weeds. New technologies are also making it easier than ever to capture and report information on the location of weeds so that online databases are more complete. Previously, weed sightings were submitted to EDDMapS using detailed online forms. But the new applications are game changers. Now home gardeners, backpackers and other laypeople likely to encounter invasive weeds can participate as well. See our Smartphone Applications page for more information.

* See our In the News section for more information and additional resources.

Updated Invasive Species Conference Calendar

2012-05-23T14:24:29Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Many New Upcoming Invasive Species Related Conferences added (U.S. and International), including:

Pacific NorthWest Economic Region's 2012 Invasive Species Conference - "The Power of Partnerships" -- Jul 19-19, 2012

7th Ballast Water Management -- Sep 19-20, 2012

International Conference & Exhibition Ballast Water Management 2012 (ICBWM2012) - "Operational Experience of Ballast Water Treatment Systems" -- Nov 14-16, 2012

3rd International Research Conference on Huanglongbing (IRCHLB III) -- Feb 4-7, 2013

* See our Conference Calendar for more information and resources.

The Economic Cost of Large Constrictor Snakes (Jan 2012)

2012-05-23T12:08:05Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

The Economic Cost of Large Constrictor Snakes (Jan 2012)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with many organizations, has spent more than $6 million since 2005 finding and applying solutions to the growing problem of Burmese pythons and other large invasive constrictor snakes in Florida. For more information, see Rule Making to List Four Constrictor Snake Species Under the Lacey Act: Final Economic Analysis (Jan 12, 2012).

* See our Economic Impacts section for more information and additional resources.

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week -- May 20-26, 2012: Spot the Purple Trap for EAB Awareness Week (May 21, 2012)

2012-05-22T18:06:20Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week -- May 20-26, 2012: Spot the Purple Trap for EAB Awareness Week (May 21, 2012)
EAB is one of many "Hungry Pests" that can cause significant damage to our country's natural resources. Since first being identified in 2002, EAB is responsible for the destruction of tens of millions of ash trees in 15 states in the Midwest and Northeast. Help keep EAB from spreading by not moving firewood and by inspecting your trees regularly.

* See our In the News section for more information and additional resources.

Lamprey Barrier will Help Protect Lake Michigan Fishery (Apr 26, 2012)

2012-05-16T19:39:09Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Lamprey Barrier will Help Protect Lake Michigan Fishery (Apr 26, 2012)
State and federal agencies recently completed construction of a $1.6 million sea lamprey barrier in Trail Creek, a Lake Michigan tributary in northern Indiana. The barrier will prevent sea lamprey from spawning in the creek, which will reduce the number of these monstrous, blood-sucking invaders in Lake Michigan. The barrier and other efforts to control sea lamprey are paramount to efforts to maintain a healthy Great Lakes fishery. Each sea lamprey can consume up to 40 pounds of fish during its time in the lakes.

* See our Species Profile - Sea Lamprey page for more information and additional resources.

New Bills to Confont Asian Carp Threat -- Update to Congressional Bills - 112th Congress

2012-05-16T18:45:54Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

New Bills to Confont Asian Carp Threat -- Update to Congressional Bills - 112th Congress.
Provides information for invasive species related Congressional bills, including introduction date, sponsor, summary, full bill text, and bill status.

Congress introduced new bills aimed at combating the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. The legislation directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete within 18 months its study on how to separate the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds to block the advance of the non-native Asian carp. The voracious fish are within miles of Lake Michigan. Scientists fear that an Asian carp invasion into the Great Lakes could devastate the region's $7 billion sport and commercial fishery. The legislation updates the Stop Asian Carp Act of 2011, which was introduced last year.

S.2317 - Stop Invasive Species Act of 2012 -- A bill to compel the Secretary of the Army to complete the Great Lakes Mississippi River Interbasin Study within 18 months and to focus particular attention on the permanent prevention of the spread of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basins.

Related Bill -- H.R.4406 - Stop Invasive Species Act

* See our Congressional Bills - 112th Congress and our Species Profile - Asian Carps pages for more information and resources.

Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) Survey Guidelines Now Available (May 2012)

2012-05-16T13:59:02Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) Survey Guidelines Now Available (May 2012)
In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine has updated the Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) Survey Guidelines for 2012 (Apr 2012). The main change to the guidelines from last year is the addition of instructions on how to use the lure that has been developed for walnut twig beetle. TCD results from the combined activity of Geosmithia morbida fungus and the walnut twig beetle (WTB, Pityophthorus juglandis).

* See our Thousand Cankers Disease page for more information and additional resources.

Ohio State Ask an Expert Now Online (May 4, 2012)

2012-05-08T13:12:43Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Ohio State Ask an Expert Now Online (May 4, 2012)
Ohioans who have questions -- on everything from personal finance to agricultural enterprise budgets, from gardening to crop production, from nutrition to producing fruits and vegetables safely -- have a new way to find answers.

* See our Ohio state resource page for more information and additional resources.

Biocontrol Agent Tested to Battle Invasive Kudzu Bug (May 3, 2012)

2012-05-08T12:22:25Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Biocontrol Agent Tested to Battle Invasive Kudzu Bug (May 3, 2012)
ARS is studying a potential biological control for the kudzu bug, which does feed on the kudzu vine, but also could be a major pest of soybeans, peanuts and other legumes.

* See our In the News section for more information and additional resources.

Sizing Up Destruction-Managing for Results at Largest EAB Delimitation Survey in New York (Apr 4, 2012)

2012-05-08T12:05:59Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Sizing Up Destruction-Managing for Results at Largest EAB Delimitation Survey in New York (Apr 4, 2012)
Volunteers from 30 agencies from New York and New England were part of the effort to identify the extent of the New York emerald ash borer infestation.

* See our Success Stories for more information and additional resources.

Escargot? More like Escar-No! (Apr 19, 2012)

2012-05-01T18:36:06Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Escargot? More like Escar-No! (Apr 19, 2012)
USDA and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have been fighting to stop the spread of the giant African snail. In six, months, more than 40,000 of these snails have been collected. Alert homeowners are the first line of defense in reporting signs of snail infestations. Please do your part in the fight against invasive species -- if you have a giant African snail or see the snails or signs of their presence, call the toll-free helpline at 888-397-1517.

* See our Species Profile - Giant African Snail page for more information and additional resources.

Use of Common Pesticide Linked to Bee Colony Collapse (Apr 5, 2012)

2012-05-01T18:28:04Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

Use of Common Pesticide Linked to Bee Colony Collapse (Apr 5, 2012)
The likely culprit in sharp worldwide declines in honeybee colonies (colony collapse disorder) since 2006 is imidacloprid, one of the most widely used pesticides, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health. Pinpointing the cause of the problem is crucial because bees -- beyond producing honey -- are prime pollinators of roughly one-third of the crop species in the U.S. and livestock feed. Massive loss of honeybees could result in billions of dollars in agricultural losses, experts estimate.

* See our In the News section for more information and additional resources.

USDA's Chief Veterinary Officer on the Recent BSE Case (aka Mad Cow) (Apr 25, 2012)

2012-04-27T18:11:16Z

Posted by USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center --

USDA's Chief Veterinary Officer on the Recent BSE Case (aka Mad Cow) (Apr 25, 2012)
On April 24, USDA confirmed the nation's 4th case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in an animal that was sampled for the disease at a rendering facility in central California. This animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food and milk supply, or to human health in the U.S. See BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or Mad Cow Disease) from USDA for more information.

* See our In the News section for more information and additional resources.