Arkansas Invaders: Invasive Species

Arkansas Invaders: Invasive Species in Arkansas ForestsTamara Walkingstick, Ph.D.UA Division of AgricultureCooperative Extension ServiceArkansas Forest Resources Center

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The Gypsy Moth Sees Your Future

http://youtu.be/R5jQkX-tC_4

If WiFi works, click on hyperlink and run the video. PPT cannot embed the code provided by the website for whatever reason.2

IntroductionDefinition of InvasiveProblem with InvasivesTop Invasive Plants3 New PestsWhat to doUseful websites

Which of theseis an Invasive?

Ask audience for a show of hands for each species that they think might be invasive. Click on each photo and ask the question. The species are Bermuda Grass, Daffodils, Multiflora rose, and Callery Pear.4

What about these?

Again, ask which ones are invasive. The red fox, the honey bee, the sparrow, or the pheasant. They are all non-native.5

What is an Invasive Species?ALL OF THEM!!! OR ARE THEY?According to the USFS:..a species that is non-native or alien to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

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Invasive Exotic SpeciesNot all invasive species are exoticEg. Sweetgum, elm, E. Red Cedar Not all Exotics are invasiveEg. Japanese Maple, CatalpaBUT many areEg: Kudzu, Honeysuckle, Privet

Whats the problem?Replace rare & endangered speciesHybridize w/native plant speciesKill trees & shrubsPrevent forest regenerationHarbor plant pathogens, such as bacterial leaf scorch (Xylella fastidiosa)Kill of entire species: ie disease like Chestnut Blight

Other DamageCompete with native species.Alter hydrological patterns & stream functionChange fire regimesMight contain toxins that may be lethal to certain animals. For example, garlic mustard can be lethal to a native butterfly species.

Cost of InvasivesSpreading over approximately 1,729,730 acres per yearInvasive plants cost $35 billion in damages & treatment each year!!

Top Three Invasive PlantsMimosaPrivetsJapanese HoneysuckleTall fescueNon-native LespedezaThese species occurred on the most forested acreage based on FIA data.http://www.invasive.org/fiamaps/

Silktree or Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)Nature: Small legume tree to 30-50 ft tall Reproduces by abundant seeds and root sprouts.Origin: Introduced from Asia in 1745. Uses: A traditional ornamental.Good News: a virusBad News: Horticulturalists are breeding resistant cultivars

Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)Nature: Shade-tolerant, tall shrubs or small trees growing to about 30 ft tall Semi-evergreen w/showy clusters of small white flowers Origin: Introduced in the early to mid 1900s from China and Europe, respectively. Uses: Traditional Southern ornamental shrubs. Deer browse Chinese privet sprouts.

Honeysuckles (Lonicera japonica) Nature: Multi-stemmed and arching-branchedLeaves opposite, usually oval to oblong in shape, and range in length from 1 to 3 inches.Japanese and bush honeysuckles both problemsOrigin: All from Asia. Introduced in the 1700s and 1800s. Uses: Used as ornamentals and wildlife plantsDespite the wildlife use: it is NOT NATIVE & NOT recommended

Potential Invasive SpeciesCogon GrassEmerald Ash BorerGypsy MothSirex WaspAsian Long Horn BeetleThousand Cankers Disease

Cogongrass Imperata cylindricaFederal Noxious WeedFire hazardNo wildlife valueReduces tree seedling growth & establishmentVery difficult to remove once establishedWind and equipment spread

Web site for informationhttp://www.cogongrass.org/

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Whitish midrib often off-center

Sharp Roots

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Very Dense Mat of Rhizomes

Will grow in any site that is not cultivated or permanently wet

Natural areasTurfgrassOrnamental plantingsRights-of-wayPasturesForestsOrchardsDitchbanksRoadsides

What about Japanese Bloodgrass Imperatacylindrica'RubraSame as Imperata cylindrica which is Cogongrass?When in doubt the ASTB has banned the sale of this grass it can (& probably will) revert to its invasive nature. DONT DO IT!!!

Does Japanese Bloodgrass Revert?

YES!!!!

Is it here yet?Yes and NoJapanese Bloodgrass is planted hereHave NOT yet it in the wildHave seen the Bloodgrass revert to cogongrass here in Mtn. HomeVery likely has already spreadContact the ASPB if you see it.

Can you buy Japanese Bloodgrass?

Again, it is illegal to purchase, sell, or distribute it within the State.

BUT you can order it on-line!!!!

Emerald Ash Borer Agrilus planipennis

Here are a few quick facts about the Emerald Ash Borer:

It attacks only ash trees. It is a beetle from Asia and was first identified in July 2002 as the cause of widespread ash tree decline and mortality in southeastern Michigan and Ontario, Canada. Larval feeding in the tissue between the bark and sapwood essentially girdles the tree by disrupting the transport of nutrients and water in a tree.Eventually branches and then the entire tree dies.Tens of millions of ash trees in forested, rural, and urban areas have already been killed or are heavily infested by this pest.

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Remember that the Emerald Ash Borer only attacks ash trees. So how do you identify an ash tree? Ash trees are relatively easy to identify. They have compound leaves and an opposite leaf and branch arrangement. What do these two terms mean?

An opposite arrangement means that there are two leaves, twigs, or branches located directly opposite or across from each other.

You can see that there are two buds arranged opposite from each other in this photo.

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Larger twigs and branches can also have an opposite arrangement as seen here. The easiest thing to remember is MAD which means Maples, Ashes, and Dogwoods. These three type of trees all have opposite leaf arrangements.

Hickories and oaks have alternate leaf arrangements.29

Simple vs. Compound

Now lets define the terms, simple and compound.A simple leaf is one in which the leaf blade is all in one piece.If it consists of several leaflets or smaller parts, it is called a compound leaf.30

Members of the Olive Family

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Adult Emerald Ash BorerEmerald Ash Borer

So back to the Emerald Ash Borer. Where is it native? How did it get here and what are the specifics regarding the damage? And finally, what can you do?

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Adults feed on ash foliage - cause little damageLarvae feed on the inner bark of ash treesGirdles and kills the tree

Cory Bosnic 2014

Why is this beetle so destructive? As with most borers, it is the larvae that cause the damage.Adults feed on the ash leaves causing little damage. However, the female Emerald Ash Borer lays her eggs just beneath the bark. The eggs hatch and work their way into the inner bark of the tree. The larvae feed on the inner bark creating winding feeding galleries. This feeding disrupts the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients and essentially girdles the tree. Trees can die within a just a couple of years. The larvae pupate and exit the tree as adults ready to start the cycle over again. 34

Recent research shows that the beetle can have a one- or two-year life cycle. Adults begin emerging in mid to late May with peak emergence in late June. Females usually begin laying eggs about 2 weeks after emergence. Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks, and the tiny larvae bore through the bark and into the cambium - the area between the bark and wood where nutrient levels are high. The larvae feed under the bark for several weeks, usually from late July or early August through October. The larvae typically pass through four stages, eventually reaching a size of roughly 1 to 1.25 inches long. Most EAB larvae overwinter in a small chamber in the outer bark or in the outer inch of wood. Pupation occurs in spring and the new generation of adults will emerge in May or early June, to begin the cycle again - See more at: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/faq.cfm#q735

The feeding galleries are a result of the larvae feeding on the phloem and the other sapwood for several weeks. The S-shaped galleries wind back and forth becoming progressively wider as the larvae grows. One method of determining whether damage is caused by EAB is to scrape the bark down to the cambium layer and look for the s-shaped galleries.

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Larvae can be found just under the bark. If used carefully, a drawknife or small ax can expose both the galleries and any larvae still within the galleries. Notice the somewhat triangular shaped segments on the larvae. This too, is a key characteristic of Emerald Ash Borer. 37

Woodpecker Feeding

Another sign of EAB in a newly infested tree is woodpecker damage. Woodpeckers are attracted to the pre-pupal larvae and will create jagged holes on the trunk. They will feed on the larvae until they pupate sometime during late Fall. 38

D-Shaped Exit Hole

The exit hole is a small D-shaped hole on a branch or the trunk of the tree. The shape of the exit hole is quite unique making it relatively easy to identify the damage. Exit holes are not always apparent on the bark. 39

Basal Sprouting

As the previous graphic illustrated, the larvae live under the bark and then pupate and exit the tree as adult beetles. The tree usually dies back from the top over 1 to 2 years. As it dies, new sprouts from the trunk and the base may appear. Environmental stress may also make a tree more vulnerable to attack. Trees can also be re-infected by EAB making it difficult for the tree to actually re-sprout and survive. However, we dont know for sure if re-sprouts might survive once EAB has moved through an area or when we are better able to control EAB populations.

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Native Range of the EAB

The EAB is native to eastern Russia, northeastern China, Mongolia, Taiwan, Japan and Korea, where it occurs on several species of ash. The species now known as the emerald ash borer became known to the Western world by way of a French priest and naturalist named Armand David, who traveled to imperial China in the 1860s and 70s.

David found the emerald ash borer in Beijing, according to a brief description of the beetle by the French entomologist Leon Fairmaire published in the Revue d'Entomologiein 1888.

That description, 67 words in Latin, was one of just a handful published in the west prior to the borers appearance in Michigan more than a century later.

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Travel to America..

So how did the Emerald Ash Borer get here? It was probably imported into Michigan via infested ash crating or pallets at least 1520 years ago. There are millions of wood pallets and crates entering this country every year and pests hitch a ride to our shores. Recent research suggests that it was in Ohio and Michigan as early as the 1990s. In 2002, people noticed increased mortality and decline in ash trees in the Southeastern MI area. It was eventually attributed to EAB. Despite quarantines and other efforts to contain the beetle, it spread rapidly. Now, in 2014, the Emerald Ash Borer has been found in 24 States and two Canada provinces.

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Moved by People

The adult EAB is not a very strong flyer. Research suggests that they can fly from 1/2 to 3 miles a year. How are they spreading then? We are spreading them by moving wood products, especially firewood. Campers, hunters, firewood vendors, and others move firewood without understanding that diseases and insects could be hidden within the wood. States with Emerald Ash Borer have enacted quarantines on the movement of firewood as well as other wood products. Has this approach been effective? Obviously not.43

EAB in the US: TimelineEAB found near Detroit in 2002.Ohio 2003Indiana 2004Illinois and Maryland 2006PA and WV in 2007WI , MO and VA in 2008MN, NY and KY in 2009IA and TN in 2010CT, KS and MA in 2012NH, NC, GA and CO in 2013NJ and AR in 2014February 2015. LAApril 2016. TXChanges/additions included since the March 2, 2015 map are as follows: The addition of initial county detections in Clinton County, IA; Anoka County, MN; Wayne County, NC and McKean County, P - See more at: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/map.cfm#sthash.nJab4Iwt.dpuf

Pretty fast for a bug that can only fly 3 to 6 miles!

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www.emeraldashborer.info

What is the damage caused by this beautiful exotic pest? Since 2002, tens of millions of ash trees in Southeastern Michigan alone have been killed. Tens of millions more have been lost across the mid-west, and parts of Canada and as far west as CO. Closer to home, EAB has also been found in GA, KY, TN, NC. EAB was found in Southern MO in 2008 and then Kansas City area in 2012. We expected the beetle to come into the Northern part of the State. But we were wrong.

In July, 2014, EAB adults and larvae were found in traps and through observation in five SW Counties here in Arkansas. So we are no longer safe! The Green Menace is Here!45

VisualObserving ash trees for damage and exit holesTrapsPurple Prism trapsLuresCombination of Manuka oil and Z-3 hexanol

Monitoring for Emerald Ash Borer

Things stick to it even children!

Gypsy Moth Lymantria dispar

Innovation Gone Wrong!

Introduced by Leopold TrouvelotAccidental escape in 1869Spread rapidlyIn 1890, eradication program began

The history of the Gypsy Moth introduction is fascinating. The gypsy moth was brought to North America from France by Mr. E. Leopold Trouvelot. His purpose was to breed hybrid silkworms that would be hardier than the Chinese species and that could be used to establish a silk industry in the United States. By 1865 he had a million caterpillars feeding under protective netting at his home in Medford, Massachussets. In 1869 some of them escaped and were apparently scattered by a windstorm. By 1881 the gypsy moth caterpillars had become so common in Trouvelot's neighborhood, that the villagers in Medford considered them a local nuisance. In 1890 the State and Federal Government began their attempts to eradicate the gypsy moth. These attempts ultimately failed and since that time, the range of gypsy moth has continued to spread. 54

1 generation per yearMale dark - 1.5 wingspan Female white - 2.5 wingspan but flightlessEgg masses (100-1000 eggs) laid June-August, overwinters in egg stage & hatch April-May of following yearLarval stage 10-12 wks. Damage (defoliation) caused by larval feeding.

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Gypsy MothMost oaks very susceptibleHickories & pine moderately susceptibleAsh, sycamore, poplar, locust least susceptible

Gypsy Moth TrapsProvided by StateLocated in grid patternDelimiting Traps set 36/sq. mileTraps contain a pheromone that attracts male mothsTraps are NOT a control device: just a monitoring deviceMoths are then identified as either Gypsy moth or another species

How Worried Should You Be?Since 2004, only one or so moths have been caught in the more than 4,000 traps set-they are not established here. Yet.Bottom-line: keep your forest healthyConditions that favor gypsy mothsNW & SW AR have had some isolated spotsHigh density, over-crowded standsPredominately oakStressed, unhealthy forests

Infestation continues to move South & WestNational Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread program implemented (1999) along 1,200 mile gypsy moth frontier from NC through upper peninsula of MI - Trapping, Suppression, Regulatory Work

Web ResourcesSeveral existBookmark your favorites

Agencies, organizations, and citizens across the United States are concerned about invasive pests. As a result numerous websites exist. Just a few are highlighted here. Visit these sites. As we continue through this course, you will be asked to answer questions based upon the material presented on a few of these sites. Bookmark your favorites and the ones that might serve your informational needs in the future.60

National Website: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/

Teacher Resources

http://www.plantheroes.org/

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Life Cycle of the EAB

http://stopthebeetle.info/kidscorner/

http://www.hungrypests.com/resources/youth.php

National Park Service: Focus on Florida but good resources

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http://beetlebusters.info/get-involved/educate/

USDA Forest Service Invasive Species Learning Kit

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_054503.pdf

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Dont Move Firewood

http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/

Invasive.org :

http://www.invasive.org/weedcd/index.htm

Invasive.org : http://www.invasive.org/weedcd/index.htmThis website is for the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health and is a project of the University of Georgia and the US Forest Service. The focus of the site is to provide identification, ecology, and control information for invasive plants in the United States occurring in aquatic, wetland, forest, rangeland, desert, or prairie habitats. This product compiles information in recent publications from leaders in invasive species management in the United States, such as the USDA Forest Service, USDA APHIS PPQ, The Nature Conservancy, The Plant Conservation Alliance, The Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council, and the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England.

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Old World Climbing Fern

Brief DescriptionControl StrategiesSelected ImagesLinks to more Information

Lets look at a brief example from this website. You can choose from several different categories of invasive pests including aquatic pests, ferns, forbs, grasses, and so forth. If we select Ferns and then select Old World Climbing Fern, a new page pops up. It provides a brief description, biology, and management of control strategies for the species in question. Selected images are also availalbe as are links to additional information.We will use this site to discuss several of the species of concern here in Arkansas.71

The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS):http://www.gri.msstate.edu/research/ipams/ipams.php

The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS) is a project of the Geosystems Research Institute (GRI), Mississippi State University. The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS) provides information on the biology, distribution, and best management practices for forty weedy plant species. Outreach and extension activities include developing training programs for volunteers to identify and report invasive species using IPAMS, developing an efficient Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) system for invasive plants, developing best management practices workshops, and developing an online mapping system. You can report sightings of invasive species into the system using a simple on-line registration.

Weeds Gone Wildhttp://weedsgonewild.org/

Weeds Gone Wild is a website of the Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group whose purpose is to inform the public about the harmful ecological impacts of invasive non-native plants like kudzu. Illustrated, easy-to-read fact sheets on invasive alien plants with native ranges, plant descriptions, ecological threats, U.S. distributions & habitats, background of introductions, plant reproduction & dispersal, management approaches, alternative native plants, and other useful information can be found on this site.. 73

Research It

www.hungrypests.com

APHIS has developed a web site called HungryPests that provides more than you ever wanted to know about invasive pests. It includes several different species of invasive pests and includes the latest news and information about these pests. One of the tools is a state-by-state profile of the top invasive pests. And the bugman video is a must-see.74

http://www.texasinvasives.org/Research It

Closer to home, Texasinvasives.org is the result of a partnership to manage non-native invasive plants and pests in Texas. The partnership includes state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, green industry, academia and other private and public stakeholders who share in the common goal of protecting Texas from the threat of invasive species. The site provides trained volunteers the opportunity to record observations of invasive pests. The only problem with this web site is that it deals with pests from more arid environments than Arkansas and many of the pests they discuss are not in Arkansas.75

Research Itwww.arinvasives.org

Here in our State, Extension professionals with the Arkansas Forest Resources Center have developed a website focused on invasive pests. The ARInvasives.org site is a University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture project funded by the Arkansas State Plant Board. This website introduces people to some pests that have the potential to invade our forests and to threaten our native species. The web site will also introduce you to some of the forest invasive pests that are already in our forests. 76

Questions?