This article was featured in the 2021 Autumn Newsletter by Thomas Allgaier-Invasive Species Coordinator NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets (AGM)
Good news is hard to come by recently. But for the SLELO region in 2021 New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYS AGM) has not detected any new Invasive Species as of the end of September. In 2021, AGM Horticultural Inspectors have completed numerous inspections in the SLELO region. None of the trapping or visual target species for our 2021 Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) program were detected. And no Spotted Lanternfly.
The year 2020 was hard on everyone worldwide. In the SLELO region, AGM had a few invasive species detections. Last year, Heterodera glycines, Soybean Cyst Nematode was found in a farm field in Jefferson county, and Fiorinia externa, Hemlock Scale was found on a fir tree in Jefferson county.
These issues were mitigated at the detection sites and follow-up monitoring indicated no remaining populations. Our Horticultural Inspectors regularly survey and trap many different invasive species. They also provide outreach on invasive species to all the registered nursery growers and dealers in the state. Our partners at Cornell Cooperative Extension are also out there in their assigned counties surveying and scouting agricultural crops, fields, vineyards, and orchards as cooperators in the CAPS program or other exotic pest surveys.
The first North American detection of Elm Zigzag Sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) was reported by a citizen scientist in July 2020 not far from the SLELO region in Sainte-Martine, Quebec, Canada. This Asian native will defoliate elm trees. It is not yet known to be in the United States, but this is yet another invasive species that may migrate south from Canada into New York state as several others have.
In contrast, 2021 has been a good year for SLELO PRISM. There have been no detections of any of the invasive species pests I have mentioned. Additional good news is that this is the final year of Plum Pox Virus (PPV) Survey in the Hudson Valley. AGM will continue to monitor for new introductions of PPV from our northern neighbor. Later this year we will be repealing most of the Plum Pox Virus regulations and quarantine, except for the propagation ban in Niagara County. This year Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) has been found in several new counties in New York. Thankfully none in the SLELO PRISM region. Unfortunately, there are now 13 counties in the state that have documented populations of Spotted Lanternfly.
The role of community scientists in response to invasive species is increasing every day. Public reporting of invasive species is a key component to the work we all do to keep New York, and the SLELO PRISM region free of new Invasive Species and to monitor the populations of invasive pests we do find. Reporting invasive species using iMapinvasvies is just one of the many ways to work collaboratively to address the issues these and other invasive species may cause to the economy, human health, and the environment. All of us here at NYS AGM deeply appreciate all the efforts SLELO puts forth to make every year a good year when it comes to reducing the threats of invasive species.
