Invasive species

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Blog Posts

Invasive Species and Birds
Nearly every deciduous plant in the Illinois landscape has lost it leaves for the year, except for one standout.  The non-native, invasive shrubs...
spotted lanternfly
A New Invasive Insect May Threaten Illinois
Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive pest that impacts a wide range of plants as it feeds...
truck hauling firewood
Emerald Ash Borer: Is it okay to move firewood yet?
Many years ago, when emerald ash borer (EAB), had just arrived in northern Illinois, a colleague came across a flatbed trailer loaded with cut ash...
poison hemlock flowers
Poison hemlock toxicity risk and control
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) has received a lot of attention lately, with reports of expanding populations statewide...
stacked firewood
Invasive species hitchhike on firewood
Nothing beats the warmth of a crackling fireplace on these coldest days of the year.  Each winter, as my family enjoys the cozy warmth of our...
two red insects, a lady bug and a lady beetle.
Asian lady beetles move indoors for winter
When I put my blog choice in for ladybugs versus lady beetles, I thought it was going to be an easy write-up. A piece about our native ladybugs and...
jumping worm
Fall updates: gardening trends and jumping worms
In 2021, both the consumer and retail sides of gardening have seen unique challenges due to the pandemic.  Since spring 2020, garden centers saw a...
chinese mantid
The best monster movies get their ideas from nature
I’m pretty sure I know where writers get a lot of their ideas for monster movies…from the insect world. Case in point. One minute I’m happy the...

News Releases

Asian carp fish jumping out of body of water
Non-native invasive species major threat to ecosystem
URBANA, Ill.  “Invasive species” is an environmental buzzword right now and for good reason. The estimated price tag of managing the damages caused by invasive species such as the emerald ash borer or Asian carp is $120 billion annually in the U.S. May is Invasive Species Awareness...
A boy and girl use post hole diggers in a forest
4-H service project brushes off invasives
URBANA, Ill. – In 1830, a young Abraham Lincoln traveled from Indiana with his family to settle in Illinois. Almost two centuries later, new young leaders are following in his footsteps by preserving the state’s natural legacy at his namesake park. ...
Woman in kayak close to rocky bluff
Taking a deep dive into plant identification
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – It is just before 8 a.m. at Devils Kitchen Lake in Southern Illinois. The mid-August sun is already hot, and a small group unloads their kayaks, eager to get going. Against a stunning backdrop of towering bluffs, all eyes are focused on the water looking for cattails...
A man crouches next to a drone preparing to take flight
Tracking down invasive species with drones
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – The forests of Southern Illinois have a new friend in the fight against invasive species. The University of Illinois Extension Forestry program has taken to the skies...

Videos

History of Forest Pest Outbreaks in North America

North America has a history of exotic pests that extirpate individual tree species, with Emerald Ash Borer serving as our modern example. In our current, ever-globalizing society there is significant risk for future outbreaks that may impact all of our trees from the urban forest to our...

Staff