SCIENTISTS URGE NOVA SCOTIANS TO LOOK FOR WOODPECKERS
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December 12, 2018 – Scientists in Halifax are urging the public to keep an eye out for woodpecker activity in hopes to prevent emerald ash borer outbreaks. As a natural mortality agent, woodpeckers may be in indicator of an infestation, as they feed on emerald ash borer larvae. In some cases, they can consume up to eighty-five percent of the larvae in a single tree. With recent findings of emerald ash borer in Nova Scotia, hopes are to develop preventative actions and ways to determine if there is an infestation before it’s too late to treat the tree.
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HAWAII GOVERNOR LOOKING TO BUILD INVASIVE SPECIES RESEARCH CENTRE
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| December 12, 2018 – Hawaii governor, David Ige, plans to build a multi-million dollar biocontrol facility for invasive species management. Biocontrol is the practice of introducing a predator to reduce the populations of invaders. The use of biocontrol can limit the use of chemicals in pest control, which can come with their own complications. Hawaii has seen biocontrol successes in the past, with over 200 predator introductions in the past century. Gov. Ige envisions the new facility being a centre for research and development in invasive species management. |
RED CROSS DONATES TO INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM
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| DECEMBER 5, 2018 – More than a year after the Elephant Hill wildfire devastated the Kamloops, BC region, the Red Cross has donated $1 million dollars to assist in preventing the spread of invasive species in the area. Forest fires are a significant disturbance to the ecosystems that they spread through. This disturbance can act as an opportunity for invasive species to dominate the region, due to changes in resource availability, reduced competition with native species, and altered environmental conditions (i.e. light, water availability, etc.). This generous donation will go towards a three-year invasive plant treatment and prevention program, slated to begin in early 2019. |
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BLACK ASH LISTED AS THREATENED
DECEMBER 3, 2018 – The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) released its most recent report on the status of endangered species in Canada. COSEWIC assessments are used as consideration for changes to the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA), which provides best practices and policy for the protection of species in Canada. At their most recent meeting, 36 species were assessed, with 32 determined to be at risk. One of those species is the black ash, indicated by COSEWIC Chair Dr. John Reynolds to be an important component of both Canadian ecosystems and cultural and biological heritage.
In under two decades, the Emerald Ash Borer has done extensive damage to the Canadian ash tree population, with many city parks already stripped of their ash trees. The loss of the black ash would not only be of economic detriment, removing an important Canadian lumber source, but would also disturb ecosystems and urban environments. The loss of ash trees alters the microclimate of forests, allowing the invasion of exotic plants, decreasing biodiversity of herbivores and increasing soil erosion. Urban environments also benefit from ash trees and tree diversity. They increase property value, provide habitat for urban wildlife, and allow for wind break, temperature and pollution mitigation, and runoff prevention.
Listing the black ash as a threatened species means that it is “likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction.” This listing makes it more important than ever to control and reduce the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer and other forest invasives to protect the future of Canada’s remaining ash population.
 
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INVASIVE FRUIT FLY FOUND IN MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO
July 15, 2016 - On June 27, 2016, the presence of European cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) was confirmed in an urban park in Mississauga, Ontario. This marks the first confirmed detection of this potentially destructive invasive insect in North America. Read more here.
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EMERALD ASH BORER ARRIVES IN THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO
June 30 2016 - Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed in Thunder Bay Ontario. This marks the first time the insect has been detected outside of the regulated area in the province. Effective immediately, the CFIA is restricting movement of all ash material such as logs, branches, and wood chips, as well as all species of firewood from the affected site.
Emerald ash borer is a highly destructive forest pest that has already killed millions of ash trees in North America. To learn more about this insect, visit the Forest Invasives Emerald Ash Borer Species Profile
Help stop the spread of this invasive insect. Don’t move firewood – buy it where you burn it.
Photo: David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org |
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Beech Bark Disease Workshop - This September, the Invasive Species Centre hosted a professionals’ workshop in Huntsville Ontario to highlight beech bark disease (BBD). Discussions and presentations held at this workshop will contribute to an Ontario focused beech bark disease best management practices (BMP) guide, currently under development. This workshop initiated collaboration between international experts on beech bark disease from academia, industry, and government. Participants from Ontario, Quebec, New York, and Michigan were in attendance.
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| Dr. Ralph Nyland (SUNY) describing the impacts of beech bark disease at the September 2015 workshop in Huntsville Ontario, hosted by the Invasive Species Centre. Photo by Sebastien Meunier, Quebec MFFP. |
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September 16, 2015 - Invasive Hemlock Pest Found at More Sites in West Michigan. The hemlock woolly adelgid had been confirmed in Ottawa and Muskegon counties in Michigan. Read the press release here.
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September 20 to 26, 2015 is National Forest Week. This year's theme is "wildland fire". For this year's forest week, the Invasive Species Centre and Forest Invasives would like to provide some facts about the relationship between wildfires and Mountain Pine Beetle.
Check out Mountain Pine Beetle Fire Facts!
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Photo: Houping Liu, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org
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August 9, 2015 - Parasitoid wasps released to fight emerald ash borer. After an extensive environment assessment and review process, two species of exotic parasitoids are being released in Ontario and Quebec for classical biological control of emerald ash borer. These include a larval parasitoid (Tetrastichus planipennisi), and an egg parasitoid (Oobius agrili). This work is partially funded by the Invasive Species Centre. Read more here.
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May 28, 2015 - Peterborough residents' ash trees get help from Canada pilot project. Tree Canada has launched an initiative in Peterborough, Ontario to assist in the treatment of private homeowners’ ash trees in conjunction with the city of Peterborough’s treatment plan for their public trees. This will significantly reduce the cost to treat ash trees by as much as 50%. For more information on the program, click here.
If you live in Peterborough and would like to be a part of the program, download the application form here.
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May 12, 2015 - Asian Longhorned Beetle found in Chinese stoneware packaging in Finland. This is the first interception of this threatening invasive insect in the country of Finland. Read more.
Learn more about the Asian Longhorned Beetle here. |
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Register for EDRR Ontario Open Houses!
Do you want to help slow the spread of invasive species and reduce their impacts in your community? Registration is now open for FREE open house events in Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, and Halton Hills. Come learn more about the Early Detection & Rapid Response Network Ontario project and how you can get involved! Register here. |
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Ontario Biodiversity Summit May 19-22, 2015. Ontario's first ever biodiversity summit is taking place May 2015 in Niagara Falls! Join hundreds of participants to learn about the state of biodiversity in the province. On Thursday May 21st, register for the Bio-controls: Introducing enemies workshop to get a closer look at bio-control as a tool to combat invasive species!
For more information and to register, visit www.ontariobiodiversitysummit.ca |
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December 4, 2014 - The Spotted Lanternfly: A threat to Ontario? The spotted lanternfly is a native insect to parts of Asia, and was first detected in North America in Pennsylvania (September 2014). This insect threatens a range of species including the Tree of Heaven, and various fruit trees. Read more at entomologytoday.org.
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October 10, 2014 - Is the Emerald Ash Borer Switching Hosts? Recent research suggests that the emerald ash borer, an invasive forest pest destroying millions of ash trees across North America, is now attacking a new species of tree; the white Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). Professor Don Cipollini of Wright State University in Ohio discusses the potential impacts of this discovery. Read more.
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October 15, 2014 - Genomic Tools for Invasive Species. Natural Resources Canada, with Genome British Columbia, is developing exciting ways to implement genomic tools into invasive species detection and identification. The ability to rapidly and accurately identify an invasive pest, whether as an adult or an egg, a fragment or a full specimen, will allow for early detection and rapid response to control and eradicate an invasive pest before it has a chance to become established in Canada. This innovative technology is currently being developed for identification of Asian gypsy moth and sudden oak death in British Columbia. Read more.
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