What is an Invasive species?
An invasive species is a living organism thriving in a range where its non-native, they can cause harm to the environment, public health, and the economy. Invasive species outcompete many native species with similar niches, this can cause a loss of biodiversity, habitat, and has even led to extinction of native species. It is important to be able to properly identify invasive species, correctly differentiate invasive species from native look-a-likes, and how to prevent further spreading. Look out for some of these invasive species that can be found around Broome County.
Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)
Asian long-horned beetles size typically ranges from 1 to 1.5 inches, they can be identified by their black body with irregular white spots, and their long antennas. Asian long-horned beetles have an invasive presence here in New York, and they are mostly known for damaging willow, birch, and maple trees, along with other common hardwood trees. One way to reduce the spread of this invasive species is to not transport firewood.
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-75
Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an East Asian beetle that infests and kills native Ash trees. EAB has been a major problem since it was introduced, killing hundreds of millions of Ash trees throughout North America. You can identify ash trees infected with EAB from the D-shaped exit holes and S-shaped patterns beneath the bark. Avoid carrying firewood to new areas, buy it where you burn it! Moving firewood long distances can unknowingly spread the EAB and introduce it to new places.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae)
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is native to parts of Asia. The Adelgid uses its mouthparts to extract sap and nutrients from native Hemlock trees. The Hemlocks needles drop early when invested with HWA, and it leads to the eventual death of the tree. HWA is identifiable by small white wooly masses underneath the base of the needles and is only treatable through chemical pesticides once a tree is infected.
Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
This invasive species is originally from Southern Asia; it spread throughout the United States on boats and water equipment. Hydrilla grows much faster than most aquatic plants, this leads to them outcompeting native species. Hydrilla also can suffocate a body of water by blocking sunlight and removing oxygen from the surrounding water. The overabundance can also negatively affect boating, fishing, and other recreational activities. When leaving a body of water always remove visible mud and plants, as well as remove any water from your equipment to help prevent the spread of Hydrilla and other aquatic species. An easy way to reduce the spread of invasive aquatic is to let all of your gear dry before entering a new body of water.
Japanese Beetle (Polillia japonica)
The Japanese beetle is a destructive pest native to Japan but now has invaded almost all of the United States east coast. These insects have a serious impact on American agriculture, feeding on over 300 species of plants they leave a skeleton of what once was a leaf, the larvae feeds on grass roots and this causes brown patches on lawns. With no natural predators in the United States, you can see how quirky they spread.
Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)
Japanese Knotweed grows and spreads quickly, outcompeting native plants and disrupting the native ecosystem. Japanese Knotweed is known to grow in a large variety of areas. When Knotweed outcompetes native plants, it leaves bare patches of soil between each stem, this can cause erosion because in the winter there is no alive plants holding the soil together. Knotweed is very difficult to remove because cutting it down will stimulate more rapid growth from the roots, so you must dig up the whole root.
Rusty Crayfish (Faxonius rusticus)
The Rusty Crayfish is a crayfish species native to the Ohio river basin that now resides in many streams/bodies of water in Broome County. They outcompete native populations through their larger size, appetite, and aggressiveness. Rusty Crayfish affect the ecosystem in many negative ways, for example their increased apetite compared to native crayfish leads them to overfeeding on aquatic vegetation and fish eggs. You can identify a Rusty Crayfish by the red-ish patch on its sides and the black bands on the tip of the claws.
Spotted Lantern Fly (Lycorma delicatula)
The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) may be one of the most recognizable invasive insects that can be found along the East Coast. SLF are originally from parts of Asia, first detected in the United States in 2014 in Pennsylvania. SLF feed on other invasive species such as Tree of Heaven but also many native tree and plant species. SLF are harmful because of the sap they excrete while feeding attracts other insects, promotes mold, and fungus growth.
https://dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/spotted-lanternfly
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
The Tree of Heaven is a deciduous tree from China that can grow up to 80 feet tall! The Tree of Heaven is easily recognizable from the unpleasant smell that comes from its leaves and flowers. The Tree of Heaven is harmful due to its rapid growth that outcompetes native species. It also releases allelochemicals in the soil that inhibit growth and survival to the plants around it.
Water Chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis)
Water Chestnut is an aquatic plant species native to Africa and Eurasia but invasive to North America. Without any natural competition, it can spread quickly over a source of water. The quickly growing dense mats of vegetation prevent other plant species from photosynthesizing, therefore resulting in a depletion of oxygen when those plants decompose. The thick mats not only negatively affect the ecosystem Aswell as boaters, anglers, and other recreational actives.
https://nyis.info/invasive_species/water-chestnut/
Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)
Wild Parsnip, originally from Europe, is an invasive species that can cause severe skin burns when touched and then exposed to sunlight. Wild parsnips are often miss identified, they look similar and can cause similar burns to native parsnips. It can be identified by its yellow flowers and leaf shape.
Endangered Species
Dragonflies
The Arrowhead and Tiger Spike tails are rare species of dragonflies’ native to the East Coast of the US. They are known to be found in and around Hawkins Pond, they are currently listed as vulnerable and critically imperiled in New York.
Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)
The Eastern Hellbender is the largest aquatic salamanders in North America, reaching up to 30 inches in length and living up to 30 years of age. This rare species is native to rivers on the east coast. Only 2 river drainages in New York contain hellbenders, the Susquehanna River being one of them. Broome County occupies the Northernmost territory inhabited by hellbenders. They hold a special concern status in New York and are listed as endangered throughout many other states.
For more information
DEC NYS invasive species – connected link (https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/265.html)
https://imapinvasives.natureserve.org/
What can you do to help?
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Verify that the plants you are buying for your yard or garden are not invasive. Replace invasive plants in your garden with non-invasive alternatives. Ask your local nursery staff for help in identifying invasive plants!
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When boating, clean your boat thoroughly before transporting it to a different body of water.
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Dry all water Equipment for five days before using in a new body of water.
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Clean your boots before you hike in a different location to get rid of potential hitchhiking weed, seeds, and pathogens.
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Don’t “pack a pest” when traveling. Fruits and vegetables, plants, insects, and animals can carry pests or become invasive themselves. Don’t move firewood (it can harbor forest pests), clean your bags and boots after each hike, and throw out food before you travel from place to place.
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Don’t release aquarium fish and plants, live bait, or other exotic animals into the wild. If you plan to own an exotic pet, do your research and plan ahead to make sure you can commit to looking after it.
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Volunteer at your local park, refuge, or other wildlife area to help remove invasive species. Help educate others about the threat. You can even volunteer with Finger Lakes Prism- connected link -(https://fingerlakesinvasives.org/invasive-survey/) a Broome County partner.
