ST. LAWRENCE EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO PARTNERSHIP FOR REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
The Land Protector program is a community science initiative intended to enhance early detection efforts of priority forest pests and terrestrial invasive species in the St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario (SLELO) region. Early detection is a term used to describe the act of discovering invasive species populations in the early stages of introduction, before population sizes become too large to manage.
Step 1: Sign up for a training (see below).
Step 2: Use the information on this page to familiarize yourself with our priority aquatic invasive species (AIS).
Step 3: Adopt a trail to survey.
Step 4: Visit the adopted trail annually to monitor for priority species and report observations to NYiMapInvasive’s mobile app.
The Land Protectors Learning Experience is a unique opportunity to learn to identify, survey, report, and manage priority terrestrial invasive species through virtual and hands-on experiences.
Sessions include seasonal training webinars and immersive field experiences. Summer sessions are held June-July, followed by fall restoration plantings, and a special winter hemlock woolly adelgid learning session.
Quick Links:
Click the links below to view the Land Protectors priority speices.
View best management practices, prevention tips, guides, brochures, and many more resources to help you protect your lands and trails.
Below is an overview of invasive forest pests currenlty listed as priority species in SLELO PRISM that Land Protectors should survey for. Species distribution and abundance is dependant on confirmed observations, therefore, this list is subject to change.
Overview: Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) poses a serious threat to both native and ornamental beech trees, often resulting in their decline and death. The condition is linked to an invasive nematode, Litylenchus crenatae mccannii, which targets leaf buds and tissue. This feeding activity causes leaf deformities that disrupt photosynthesis, ultimately compromising the tree’s health.
Impacts: American beech trees are an important component of the northern hardwood forest type (maple-beech-birch) which makes up more than half of the forested land in New York. Many wildlife species rely on beech mast as a main source of energy. The loss of beech trees would cause changes in forest structure that would affect the whole ecosystem.
IDENTIFICATION:
BLD symptoms appear in the leaves and include striping, curling, or a leathery texture. These signs may be visible year-round, as some beech trees may hold their leaves in winter. Stripes are most noticeable on the underside of leaves and you may see them by looking up into the canopy or holding branches up to the light. Eventually, affected leaves wither, dry, and yellow (NYSDEC).
Survey Tips:
The map below shows confirmed BLD observations from iMapInvasvies. This information can be used to aid your survey efforts.
Overvview: The elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) is an invasive insect native to Asia, specifically parts of China and Japan. Its common name comes from the zigzag feeding pattern of its larvae. Elm zigzag sawflies feed exclusively on elm trees; elms in a variety of habitats, including arboretums, botanical gardens, roadside trees, urban plantings, and natural woodlands are threatened by the elm zigzag sawfly
Impacts: Young EZS larvae feed on elm leaves in a distinctive zig-zag pattern while older larvae feed more broadly on the leaf tissue leaving behind only veins.
The feeding habits of EZS larvae can cause significant defoliation, branch dieback, and crown thinning on infested elm trees. Competition between native sawfly species and native elm foilage-feeding species may become a concern. Infested trees are also more vulnerable to other tree pests and pathogens causing a cascading impact on forest ecology, the economy, and societal values
Identification:
Larvae: Are light green with a black band on their head and T-shaped markings above the second and third pair of true legs.
Adults: Are black with yellowish-white colored legs and smoky-brown colored wings.
Cacoons: Are loosely spun and net-like; they can be found attached to leaves or other objects like fence posts
Survey Tips:
The map below shows confirmed elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) observations from iMapInvasvies. This information can be used to aid your survey efforts.
Overview: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) or SLF, is an invasive insect from Asia that threatens a wide variety of plants such as hops, grapevine, walnut, fruit trees, maple trees. Its preferred host is an invasive plant called the tree of heaven (Ailantus altissima).
SLF was likely introduced to the United States as egg masses transported on a stone shipment from China, India, Vietnam or South Korea. The first US infestation was discovered in 2014, in Berks County , Pennsylvania and has since spread to other parts of PA in addition to bordering states.
Impacts:
Spotted lanternfly can devastate New York’s agricultural and tourism industries and threatens our forests. It feeds on over 70 different plant species including, grapevines, hops, fruit and nut trees, and maple trees. SLF feeds in large numbers and excretes honeydew that attracts sooty molds; these molds interfere with plant photosynthesis and impact crop growth and yields. The honeydew impedes tourism as it puts off a foul odor and attracts stinging insects.
Identification:
Egg masses: Roughly 1-1.5 inches long laid in rows. Newer masses are have a greyish, putty-like, or mud-like coatings that turn beige/grey and cracked over time. Older masses may be missing the coating and appear as rows of bown colored seed-like eggs. Present fall-spring and can be found on any flat surface exposed to the outdoors.
Nymphs: May- July: nymphs are small (1/4th inch) black wingless insets covered in white spots. July-September: nymphs are bright red with white spots and black stripes and about 1/2-3/4 inch long.
Adults: (Present July-November) Winged insects about an inch long. Forewings are gray with black spots; hindwings are red, white, and black and only visable when during flights or when startled.
Survey Tips:
The map below shows confirmed spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) observations from iMapInvasvies. This information can be used to aid your survey efforts.
Overvview: Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae, HWA) is a small aphid-like insect native to Asia that is now threatening eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana).
Impacts:HWA threatens hemlock trees, genus Tsuga. HWA feeds on hemlock tree sap by injecting their specialized mouthparts into the base of hemlock needles. This triggers a defense in host trees to “wall off” these incisions (similar to a scab growing over a cut) and over time the feeding of HWA weakens the host tree and leads to tree mortality.
Identification:
HWA is roughly the size of a speck of pepper, 1.5 mm in length, and is brown to black in color. In the fall/winter months, HWA forms a white woolly mass around its body that can be seen on the twigs, at the base of hemlock needles.
Survey Tips:
The map below shows confirmed hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae, HWA) observations from iMapInvasvies. This information can be used to aid your survey efforts.
Below is an overview of invasive plants currenlty listed as priority species in SLELO PRISM that Land Protectors should survey for. Species distribution and abundance is dependant on confirmed observations, therefore, this list is subject to change.
Overview:
Black and pale swallow-worts also known as “dog-strangling vines,” are perennial, herbaceous vines.
Black swallow-wort is native to Europe near the Mediterranean Sea, while pale swallow-wort is native to Ukraine and parts of Russia.
Impacts:
Identification:
Pale Swallow-wort (Cynanchum rossicum syn. Vincetoxicum rossicum)
Leaves: Leaves are opposite in arrangement, oval to wedge-shaped with pointed tips. Generally, the leaves are 2.5″ to 4.5″ long and 2″ to 2.75″ wide, glossy, and medium green in color. In summer, the leaves begin to display a warm, yellow color.
Fruit/Seeds: The fruit is a smooth, slender, pointed pod that looks much like a milkweed pod. The pods are light green in color and are frequently borne in pairs. They are abundant during July and August. Like milkweed, the pods open in late summer, disseminating large numbers of downy seeds. Can produce 2,000 seeds per square yard.
Flowers: The star-shaped flowers are small and fleshy, with 5 pink to reddish colored petals. They are borne in loose clusters and are visible in late May through mid-July.
Black swallow-wort (Cynanchum louiseae syn., Vincetoxicum nigrum)
Characteristics are similar to pale swallow-wort, but black swallow-wort leaves are dark green, shiny, and larger in size ranging from 3-4″ long and 2-3″ wide. Flowers are dark purple/blackish in color and bloom from June to July.
The map below shows confirmed Black and pale swallow-wort observations from iMapInvasvies. This information can be used to aid your survey efforts.
Overview:
Invasive bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a deciduous woody perennial vine that is native to eastern Asia. It is in the Staff-tree family and may reach 66 ft in length.
Impacts:
Invasive bittersweet invades a great variety of sites including thickets, forests, beaches, roadsides, old fields, and urban areas. It outcompetes trees, shrubs, and other vegetation through climbing and shading. It may also kill trees by girdling them. The seeds are dispersed by water, humans, and animals. Birds and small mammals are attracted to the red inner portion of the fruit and spread the seed after ingesting.
Identification:
Stems: Occasionally branching, twining, and up to 4 in. wide.
Leaves: Alternate, light green in color (turn yellow in fall), oblong to elliptical shaped (highly variable), 2-5 inches long and 1.4-2.0 inches wide with round, fine toothed margins and a tip that comes to an abrupt sharp point or short taper to a point.
Flowers: Small greenish-yellow flowers with 5 petals that are clustered in leaf axils from May-June.
Fruit: Occurs from July to October. Fruit starts out green in color then turns yellow late in summer with the outer layer splitting into 3 parts revealing bright red fruit inside.
Roots: bright orange, fibrous roots.
Lookalike: American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is native and looks very similar to invasive bittersweet. A definitive difference is that invasive bittersweet flowers/fruit are clustered in the leaf axils, while American bittersweet fruits are clustered at the end of the stems. Also, the husk (capsule) of invasive bittersweet fruit is yellow, rather than orange.
Survey Tips:
Optimal Timing: Late fall and winter
Where to Look: Bittersweet thrives in high-sun environments. Target forest edges, roadsides, fencerows, utility corridors, and areas with recent canopy disturbances like blowdowns.
Mature vines climb high into the canopy and can girdle large trees. Scan the upper and mid-story canopy for strangling vines.
What to Look For: During the fall, the leaves of most native trees and shrubs have dropped, but bittersweet leaves remain green or turn a bright, conspicuous yellow.
During the winter, look for thick woody vines often wrapped around tree trunks and limbs and bright yellow fruit casings split open with red berries.
If you are unsure of a juvenile plant, gently dig at the base. Oriental bittersweet has distinctly bright orange, fibrous roots
The map below shows confirmed Invasive bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) observations from iMapInvasvies. This information can be used to aid your survey efforts.
Overview: Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata) is an invasive woody vine in the grape family from northeast Asia. Since its introduction to the United States in 1870 as an ornamental, it has invaded moist soils and forest edges in twelve states in the northeast including New York.
Impacts: With the ability to climb over 15 feet in a growing season, porcelain berry easily creates mats of thick twining vines which smother native vegetation. If established in residential or commercial areas, it is difficult to remove from fences, porches, and buildings and can incur costs for property owners.
Identification:
Leaves of porcelain berry vary in shape from a simple heart-shaped leaf with coarse teeth, to a deeply lobed leaf with rigid edges.
Pith: Porcelain berry has a white pith (spongy tissue inside the stem), unlike native wild grapes (Vitis spp.) which have a brown pith.
Flowers are green to white and form in small clusters in mid-summer.
Fruit are small berries that can range in color from purple to blue and have a shine to them similar to porcelain–hence the name.
Survey Tips:
Optimal Timing: October-November is the best time to survey for berries.
Where to Look: Focus on disturbed areas, and sunny forested edges.
What to Look For: Purple to blue colored berries with white speckles and a porcelain like shine. Cut mature vines to check for a white colored pith (spongy material inside the stem).
The map below shows confirmed porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)observations from iMapInvasvies. This information can be used to aid your survey efforts.
Overview: Yellow iris (Iris Pseudacorus) is an invasive perennial flowering plant that is native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.
Impacts: Yellow iris forms dense monotypic stands and expands quickly via rhizomes. It can easily replace and crowd out important riparian plants causing a loss of vital habitat. Additionally, the root systems of yellow-flag iris can narrow waterways and clog irrigation systems. All parts of the plant are toxic to livestock and other animals.
Identifying Characteristics:
Leaves are a dark blueish-green color, long and flat with a distinctive midrib that runs the length of the leaf. Leaves stand upright between 11-30 inches tall and have a sharp pointed tip.
Stems grow among the leaves at the same height or taller and from multiple flower buds at the top.
Flowers are pale to bright yellow and appear in spring to early summer. Flowers are 3-4 inches wide and have three upright petals and three larger downward pointing sepals which may have brown to purple-colored markings.
Fruits are angular seed pods 4-8 CM long capsules. Seeds are in densely packed rows inside the capsule that harden and turn brown as they mature.
Rhizomes are thick and fleshy 1-4 inches in diameter with a pinkish-orange color to them. The color of the rhizomes can help distinguish the invasive yellow iris from the native blue flag iris which has white rhizomes.
Survey Tips:
Optimal Timing: Spring and early summer.
Where to Look: Look for yellow iris along stream and river banks and freshwater shorelines.
What to Look For:
The map below shows confirmed iMapInvasives observations of yellow Iris (Iris Pseudacorus). You can use this informaiton to aid your survey efforts.
Already a VSN member? Be sure to record your time volunteering with the VSN by clicking the button below.
Want to become a member? Scroll down to sign-up for training!
Take the Pledge, Get the Tools & Earn the Badge!
