Invasive species

Events

Blog Posts

white flowers on a tree
Grassland teaches a lesson on Callery Pear
Spring has sprung! Birds are active, insects are emerging, and the early bloomers are starting to show their bright flowers indicating the cold days...
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...

News Releases

close up of hand holding several small flat larvae of an emerald ash borer
Land-grant universities key in managing devastating Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that threatens to destroy North American ash trees following its accidental introduction from Asia in the 1990s. Since then, efforts have been underway to identify the most effective means of protecting ash trees from attack.   In recent...
Invasive Maackii fruit plant with text overlay reading Illinois Invasive Species Symposium
Symposium offers 9 sessions on understanding and controlling invasive species
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois is home to beautiful wild spaces, but invasive species are a growing threat in our forests, lakes, backyards, and agricultural fields. Invasive species pose a serious threat to native species and natural ecosystems and cost the country billions of dollars to combat....
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. ...

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