INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
Invasive species are aggressive, non-native organisms that outcompete and threaten native ones. Invasive species can be anything from mammals to insects to plants and more.
Invasive species also threaten biodiversity. These organisms tend to take over an area and create a monoculture, where less or even only one species exists. Maintaining biodiversity is vital to a healthy environment, as it increases the ecosystem's resiliency, or the ability to swing back, from events like drought, disease, fire, or climate change.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Learn your invasive species! Many of them are fairly easy to recognize and even easier to kill or remove. See below for examples of invasive species and the best recommended way to remove them from your backyard.
However, if you are not sure about the identification of a plant or insect, don't kill it!
INVASIVE PLANTS
Check out one of our favorite resources on invasive plants courtesy of PA DCNR.
Mile-a-Minute
Fast-spreading vine with triangular leaves, can smother other plants, pull off trees and bushes and remove from site
Photo courtesy of Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut
Winged Euonymus
Also known as burning bush, has "wings" on sides of stems, red berries in the fall, spreads through root systems, pull and remove from site if small, cut and apply herbicide to larger plants after removing nearby small ones
Photo courtesy of Leslie J. Mehrnhoff, University of Connecticut
Garlic Mustard
White flowers and heart-shaped leaves, can outcompete natives, very easy to pull from ground
Photo courtesy of Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Privet
Shrub with needle-like thorns, can be cut with herbicide application
Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Wineberry
Thorny plant with reddish tinge, berries in the summer, pull out of ground (can root in multiple places), can be left at site, make sure roots are no longer touching ground (ie. on top of fallen log)
Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Oriental Bittersweet
Vine, can smother and pull down trees, pull smaller ones, cut larger at ground level and again at head height
Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Canadian Thistle
Also known as Creeping Thistle, thorny grass with purple puff-like flowers or white tuft, can outcompete, pull from ground
Photo courtesy of Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Autumn Olive
Shrub with green and silver wavy leaves, can be cut with herbicide application
Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Multiflora Rose
Thorny plant, creates brambles and can smother other plants, can be pulled if small, must be cut and herbicide applied if larger
Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Japanese Honeysuckle
Vine or bush, sweet flowers in summer, can be pulled or cut with herbicide application if larger
Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Barberry
Teardrop-shaped leaves, needle-like thorns, mice (and ticks) love it, can be pulled from ground
Photo courtesy of Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
INVASIVE INSECTS
There are several invasive insects in Pennsylvania including the stinkbug and the Japanese beetle. However, the worst threat currently is the Spotted Lanternfly. This insect has various characteristics depending on the stage in its life cycle. The most effective way to control this species is to squash it when you see it. As well, make sure you check yourself and your vehicles before traveling distances to mitigate the spread of this species. In the fall, you can also check the trees in your yard for lanternfly eggs and scrape them off.
Photo courtesy of Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
If you have any questions about managing invasive species in your own backyard, check out our Conservation Land Improvement Program for landowners or email Carl Hutchinson.