Invasive Species

Events

Blue sky background with flowering branches of Callery pear tree.

Managing Invasives: Eight Replacements for the Callery Pear

April 23, 2024

An image of an insect over a photo of bush honeysuckle

Illinois Invasive Species Symposium

May 22, 2024

Blog Posts

Beyond the blossoms: The invasive threat of Callery Pears

April 14, 2024

If you’ve been out and about in central Illinois this past week, you’ve probably noticed quite a few things in bloom. Early blooming plants are easy...

Callery pear: Ornamental favorite or invasive menace?

April 5, 2024

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), better known as ‘Bradford’ pear, has been blooming across Illinois. Over the years, it has been a popular...

Burning bush threatens migrating birds

November 4, 2023

Some years ago, it was shocking to learn that one of my favorite ornamental shrubs, burning bush (Euonymus alatus), is invasive. It took a...

Spotted lanternfly spotted in Illinois

October 21, 2023

Invasive species are putting continual pressure on plants and animals in Illinois, which is only expected to intensify in the coming years. This...

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News Releases

April 16, 2024

Get tools to manage non-native plants and insects at Illinois Invasive Species Symposium
URBANA, Ill. — Spotted lanternflies were found in Illinois for the first time in 2023. Quagga and zebra mussels clog water intake pipes on Lake Michigan, and every spring, invasive Bradford Callery pear trees and amur bush honeysuckle bloom across Illinois communities instead of native...

Fungi growing at the base of a large old tree in a forest

March 13, 2024

Spring back into nature with sustainability tips from Everyday Environment series
URBANA, Ill. — Every spring, nature reminds us of the beauty of the wild spaces that surround us. Wildflowers bloom in the forest understory. Mushrooms pop up overnight in your front yard. The sun sets slowly over a lake. Explore tips to manage the threat of invasive plants, explore the fungus...

April 15, 2024

Six replacement trees for invasive Callery pear
URBANA, Ill. — Now considered an invasive species, Callery pear is a widely used ornamental flowering tree with negative effects on native ecosystems. The tree is still bought, sold, and planted because it has not yet made the...

Tri-color background with Four Seasons Gardening text

March 4, 2024

Explore outdoor, backyard hobbies with spring webinar series
URBANA, Ill. — In a few short months, spring will be sprung. Kick it off by discovering a new outdoor hobby or backyard project to add to the to-do list through Four Seasons Gardening webinars beginning March 19....

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Videos

New Invaders: Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted lanternfly is the newest “unwanted” invasive pest in Illinois. Learn how to identify and report this invasive insect as well as how to manage it and prevent further spread.

Tricia Bethke from The Morton Arboretum explores why monitoring for spotted lanternflies in winter is...