Forest Invasives

Newsroom

Become a Forest Health Volunteer!

Learn how to monitor tree health in your community by attending BioForest’s training workshop! This training session will teach you how to detect insect and disease problems in urban forests. To R.S.V.P., email volunteers@bioforest.ca

Oak wilt detection will be featured in the forest health volunteer training session. To learn more about oak wilt, visit the species profile.

If you see signs and symptoms of oak wilt, please report the sighting to EDDMapS Ontario and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Be aware of hemlock woolly adelgid!

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is native to Asia, and was first detected in eastern North America in the 1950’s. This invader attacks native hemlock species, which are commonly found in Ontario forests and urban spaces.

Look for white, cotton-like or woolly masses forming on the base of hemlock needles.

To learn more about the hemlock woolly adelgid, visit the species profile.

If you see signs and symptoms of HWA in Ontario, please report the sighting to the CFIA or EDDMapS Ontario.

Be aware of the Asian Longhorned Beetle!

Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is an invasive beetle native to Asia was introduced to North America in the early 1990s. It is especially concerning for Canada as it threatens our hardwood trees which provide numerous ecological and economic benefits. To learn more, visit the ALB species profile.

If you see ALB in Ontario, please report the sighting.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates ALB in parts of Ontario. Learn more here!

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.

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

For more stories, visit the newsroom.

Invasive Species Awareness Week is Feb. 21-27 2016! and the Invasive Species Centre, along with Forests Ontario and the Ontario Invasive Plant Council are ready to celebrate! In honour of being invasive species aware, we want youth to think about what to do when you spot an invader. Grade 4 - 8 classes across Ontario can take part for a chance to win great prizes!

Download the digital package here.
Download the Submission Template here.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Photo: Houping Liu, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.