Other names: Spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula
Plants susceptible: Over 100 species but especially tree of heaven, grapes, fruit trees, black walnuts, hops, roses, red maple, and river birch.
Where did it come from?
It was first introduced on imported stone from south eastern Asia and was found in Pennsylvania in 2014. It is currently found in Northeast and Southeast Indiana and is spreading rapidly. If you see it, report it.
Why is it invasive?
Spotted lanternfly feeds on sap from stem or leaves on plants, weakening the plant overall. This damage can kill small plants and is particularly devastating to vineyards and fruit orchards. The honeydew they produce covers the ground and attracts ants, wasps, and grows mold.
How do you prevent its spread?
Report it if you see it! If you travel through affected states, check your luggage, vehicle, and anything you purchase there. If you order anything from affected areas, make sure to inspect it when you receive it.
Resources:
https://www.purduelandscapereport.org/article/spotted-lanternfly-now-in-northern-and-southern-indiana/
https://www.in.gov/dnr/entomology/pests-of-concern/spotted-lanternfly/
Seen it? Report it! Through the app, online, by email, or by phone (1-866-663-9684).
Image credit: Pennsylvania State Extension
Other names: Kudzu, Pueraria montana
Where did it come from?
Kudzu was introduced into gardens in the early 1900s and was later used for forage.
Why is it invasive?
It grows quickly over other small plants, trees, and on to structures like telephone poles. It can girdle trees and shades out native plants below it.
How do you prevent its spread?
Remove it from your property and clean your shoes and clothes after spending time outdoors to avoid transporting seeds.
Resources:
♦ Species assessment
♦ Kudzu overview
Seen it? Report it! Through the app, online, by email, or by phone (1-866-663-9684).
Image credit: Katie Ashdown
Other names: Sudden oak death, ramorum leaf blight – foliar/twig disease, ramorum dieback, phytophthora canker disease, Phytophthora ramorum
Plants susceptible: Oaks, rhododendrons, horse chestnut, laurel. For full list see: Host plant list
Where did it come from?
Sudden oak was first detected in San Francisco in the mid-90s. It can be spread through infected plants and soil in the nursery industry as well as through contaminated water.
Why is it invasive?
It causes bark cankers, leaf spots, twig dieback, and can lead to death in infected trees. The loss of hardwood forests disrupts native ecosystems and increases risk of forest fires. The loss of tree stock can cause economic loss in the nursery and landscaping industry
How do you prevent its spread?
♦ Timely diagnosis of disease
♦ Disposal of contaminated material
♦ Quarantine for infested counties
Resources:
♦ Sudden oak death
♦ Special alert: Sudden oak death
♦ IDNR: Sudden oak death
Seen it? Report it! Through the app, online, by email, or by phone (1-866-663-9684).
Image credit: Bruce Moltzan, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Other names: Callery, bradford, aristocrat, autumn blaze, Cleveland select, whitehouse, ornamental pear and many others, Pyrus calleryana
Where did it come from?
It was imported in the early 1900s to be used as an ornamental tree.
Why is it invasive?
Callery pear may look pretty, but it’s crowding out Indiana native trees! It’s the first tree with white flowers in the spring and dark crimson leaves late into the fall. Its white flowers have five petals and a really unpleasant odor. Using Callery pear in your yard allows them to spread to forests and parks where it crowds out native plants. Some escaped trees are thorny which makes it difficult for wildlife and humans to move through the woods. The branches of these trees also frequently and easily split.
How do you prevent its spread?
Consider planting the serviceberry tree, Eastern redbud, or other alternatives.
Resources:
♦ Invasive Plant Species: Callery Pear
♦ A “Pearfect” Nightmare!
♦ Now is the Time to Identify Callery Pear
♦ Species assessment
♦ Watch this video to learn how to identify it.
♦ Learn why Callery pear is such a threat to Indiana native trees.
♦ Download the poster.
Seen it? Report it! Through the app or online.
Other names: Boxwood blight, Calonectria pseudonavitulata (Prev: Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum, Cylindrocladium buxicola)
Where did it come from?
Boxwood blight was first discovered on the east coast in 2011. It overwinters in leaf litter and on infected plants and can be spread by moving infected material.
Why is it invasive?
It causes dark leaf spots, white sporulation on the plant, and cankers on the stems. Plants lose their leaves within days of onset of symptoms. The blight can eventually kill some plants.
How do you prevent its spread?
Use resistant varieties from reputable producers. Avoid holiday decorations containing boxwood. Minimize transferring the disease to new plants by taking precautions like not cutting wet boxwood and not composting infected plants.
Resources:
♦ Watch for potential new boxwood pest
♦ Boxwood Blight
♦ Boxwood blight found in Indiana
Seen it? Report it! Through the app, online, by email, or by phone (1-866-663-9684).
Image credit: Mary Ann Hansen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org
Other names: Mile-a-minute-vine/weed, Asiatic tearthumb, Persicaria perfoliata
Where did it come from?
This plant was introduced from Asia in the 1930s in contaminated ornamental plant soil.
Why is it invasive?
It grows quickly (as the name suggests!) and forms thick blankets that crowd out native species.
How do you prevent its spread?
Remove it from yards and gardens. Make sure to dispose of properly to prevent spreading seeds and root pieces.
Resources:
♦ Fact Sheet: Mile-a-Minute Vine
Seen it? Report it! Through the app or online.
Image credit: Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org
Other names: Garlic Mustard, Hedge Garlic, Sauce-Alone, Jack-by-the-Hedge, Poor Man’s Mustard, Jack-in-the-Bush, Garlic Root, Garlic Wort, Mustard Root, Alliaria petiolata
Where did it come from?
Garlic mustard was brought from Europe in the mid-1800s to be cultivated for food and medicine.
Why is it invasive?
Garlic mustard can take over the forest under story displacing native plants and interfering with growth of the remaining plants. It can also host a variety of viruses that can attack both wild and cultivated plants.
How do you prevent its spread?
Remove any garlic mustard plants growing on your property. Make sure to properly dispose of it (e.g. throw in trash or carefully burn) to avoid spreading it further.
Resources:
♦ Species assessment
♦ Garlic Mustard Species Profile
Seen it? Report it! Through the app or online.
Image credit: David
Other names: Asian longhorned beetle, starry night beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis
Plants susceptible: all maples (esp. sugar maple), horse chestnut, birch, willow, elm, + many more species
Where did it come from?
Asian longhorned beetle has been repeatedly introduced from its native range in China.
Why is it invasive?
Asian longhorned beetle kills the trees it attacks by hollowing them out and cutting off their supply of nutrients. Although it generally takes about 10 years to kill a tree, once a tree is infested it cannot be saved.
How do you prevent its spread?
You can help prevent its spread by not moving wood it could be hiding in like firewood. Regularly inspecting your trees for ALB and making a report of you think you’ve found signs of it. This beetle can be eradicated if caught early in an invasion. This beetle is 1 to 1.5 inches in length with long antennae that are banded black and white. Check for dime-sized or smaller exit holes in tree trunks or branches, shallow oval or round scars in tree bark, and sawdust-like material on the ground around the tree.
Resources:
♦ Learn how to identify the beetle and signs of damage.
♦ Download the poster.
Seen it? Report it! Through the app, online, by email, or by phone (1-866-663-9684).
Image credit:
Other names: Japanese Honeysuckle, Chinese Honeysuckle, Hall’s Honeysuckle, Family: Caprifoliaceae, Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)
Where did it come from?
Invasive honeysuckles were initially introduced in the late 1800s as ornamental plants. Later they were used for erosion control and wildlife cover.
Why is it invasive?
Invasive honeysuckle vines grow rapidly and cover large areas. They shade out plants growing underneath them and can girdle or pull down trees.
How do you prevent its spread?
Remove invasive honeysuckle from your property. After spending time in the woods, clean your clothes and boots and throw away any seeds.
Resources:
♦ Asian Bush Honeysuckle
♦ Species assessment Japanese honeysuckle
♦ Species assessment amur honeysuckle
♦ Species assessment Morrow’s honeysuckle
♦ Species assessment tatarian honeysuckle
♦ Species assessment Bell’s honeysuckle
Seen it? Report it! Through the app or online.
Image credit: Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Other names: Brazilian Elodea, Brazilian Waterweed, Anacharis, Egeria densa
Where did it come from?
This plant was introduced from South America in 1893 into Long Island. It was sold as an aquarium plant to oxygenate aquariums and was able to escape because old aquarium water was dumped into water ways.
Why is it invasive?
Brazilian elodea forms dense mats that prevent people and animals from moving through the water. It suppresses the growth of native species and clogs pipes.
How do you prevent its spread?
Clean, drain, dry water equipment and dispose of aquarium and water garden plants properly.
Resources:
Identifying and Managing Aquatic Vegetation
Seen it? Report it! Through the app, online, by email, or by phone (1-866-663-9684).
Image credit: William T. Haller, University of Florida, Bugwood.org
