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Invasive Species

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Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park
Massive, Parasite-Carrying Snail Found In New York Park Although a large, squirrel-sized snail found in a New York park may have looked harmless, it posed enough of a danger to people and the environment that its discovery prompted a police response.  The invasive giant African land snail was discovered within Brooklyn's Prospect Park in early May following a report from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  After it was seen in the park, it was surrendered to the City Parks department in a box, officials said, promoting a response from …

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by Ben Crnic
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Harmful Invasive Insect Sightings Reported In This Westchester Village: Here's What To Do Harmful Invasive Insect Sightings Reported In This Westchester Village: Here's What To Do
Harmful Invasive Insect Sightings Reported In This Westchester Village: Here's What To Do Following several sightings of an invasive insect known to cause harm to local forests, agriculture, and tourism, village officials in Westchester are advising residents to manually remove them by any means necessary.  According to an announcement from Irvington village officials on Tuesday, June 4, numerous residents have reported sightings of the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect from Asia known to negatively impact plant life in New York.  The insect feeds on many plant species, including grapevines, red and silver maple, walnut, sycamore, rose bushes, oak, birch, fruit tr…

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by Ben Crnic
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Giant, Flying, Multi-Colored Spiders With 4-Inch-Long Legs Head To Northeast: What To Know Giant, Flying, Multi-Colored Spiders With 4-Inch-Long Legs Head To Northeast: What To Know
Giant, Flying, Multi-Colored Spiders With 4-Inch-Long Legs Head To Northeast: What To Know Large yellow-and-gray spiders with 4-inch-long legs that can fly through the air are heading to the Northeast and could show up this summer, according to multiple reports. Sightings of the Trichonephila clavata species known as "Joro spiders" have already been reported in 10 Eastern states, CBS News says. A New Jersey pest control company in January had warned that this might happen. 4NJ Pest, based in Flanders, said the spiders act as "pest controllers" in their natural habitats, however, their introduction to not-native species could be detrimental to the balance of local ecosystems.…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Invasive Species Outbreak: Westchester Officials Use Vacuums To Combat Harmful Insects Invasive Species Outbreak: Westchester Officials Use Vacuums To Combat Harmful Insects
Invasive Species Outbreak: Westchester Officials Use Vacuums To Combat Harmful Insects Westchester officials are stepping up efforts to fight back against an outbreak of an invasive insect that is leaving parks and wooded areas vulnerable to disease.  The increased efforts have followed the discovery of the Spotted Lanternfly, which has spread rapidly throughout Westchester, county officials announced on Tuesday, Aug. 1.  An invasive species, the Spotted Lanternfly can cause "significant damage" to parks and wooded areas by sucking sap from plants, which can leave them vulnerable to disease and threats from other insects, officials said.  The juveniles of the species are id…

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by Ben Crnic
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Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester
Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed In Westchester The invasive spotted lanternfly continues its invasion of New York. A state effort to track the spread and prevalence of the insect using community reports and digital mapping shows it has now been spotted in all five boroughs of New York City, across Long Island, and throughout the Hudson Valley. Earlier Report: Capital District Among Regions In NY That Have Been 'Infested' By Invasive Insect, Schumer Says As of November 2022, the insect, also known as Chinese blistering cicada, has been confirmed in 16 New York counties, including Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, …

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by Michael Mashburn
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See Them? Squash Them: NY Officials Encourage Residents To Kill This Invasive Insect See Them? Squash Them: NY Officials Encourage Residents To Kill This Invasive Insect
See Them? Squash Them: NY Officials Encourage Residents To Kill This Invasive Insect If you see them, squash them. That’s the message from the New York State Department of Agriculture, which is warning about an invasive insect known as the spotted lanternfly. Native to Asia, the pink and gray dotted bugs were first spotted in Pennsylvania in 2014 and have been spreading across the Northeast ever since. Spotted lanternflies are not harmful to humans, but can damage crops and certain trees considered critical to agriculture. State agriculture officials urged New Yorkers who encounter the bugs to quickly exterminate them. We need EVERY New Yorker to keep their eyes pee…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Invasive Jumping Worms Spotted In Northeast: Here's What To Know Invasive Jumping Worms Spotted In Northeast: Here's What To Know
Invasive Jumping Worms Spotted In Northeast: Here's What To Know With new reports of jumping worms being spotted in gardens in the Northeast, here's what you need to know about the invasive species. The worms, which originated in Japan and the Korean Peninsula, have been seen in several states across the Northeast in recent months. Jumping worms were spotted in the Hugh Cargill Community Garden in Concord, Massachusetts, according to a report from Boston.com in November.  CBC reported in March that the invasive species has also been detected in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  Sightings have also been reported in New York. The worms received thei…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Venomous 'Parachuting' Spider Species From Asia Headed To East Coast Venomous 'Parachuting' Spider Species From Asia Headed To East Coast
Venomous 'Parachuting' Spider Species From Asia Headed To East Coast A hoard of new eight-legged neighbors will soon be parachuting toward the East Coast as the Joro spider begins making its march toward the region. The invasive species - dubbed “parachuting” for its distinct look and mode of transportation - has already begun making its mark in the south, is expected to begin migrating north, according to a newly released study. Joro spiders have two ways of travel, by hitching a ride on humans or cargo, or by “ballooning up
“ and generating silk threads that can be used as “parachutes” to use the wind to traverse the environment. Joro spider.Wikimedia…

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by Zak Failla
News
Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley
Seen It? Invasive Insect Makes First Appearance In Hudson Valley A new invasive insect that has been a point of consternation for farmers for years has been discovered in the Hudson Valley. The spotted lanternfly, which hails from southeast Asia before it made its way stateside in 2014 has reportedly been found in Orange and Rockland counties in recent weeks, causing concern for some. Lanternflies target the sap of certain trees, including grapevines, fruit trees, and other plants, devastating them. According to officials, if one spots a lanternfly, they should kill it, then send it to the state Department of Environmental Conservation for evaluation. …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning
Tiny Goldfish Dumped In Lakes Are Growing To Football Size As Officials Issue Warning Do not release your pet goldfish in lakes or ponds. That's what officials are saying after a huge goldfish was recently pulled from a Minnesota lake, an issue that has been seen across the United States in recent years. National Geographic said while a goldfish typically weighs just 0.2 to 0.6 pounds, they can weigh more than five pounds in the wild, CBS News reported. "They grow bigger than you think and contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants," the City of Burnsville, Minnesota, tweeted on Friday, July 9.  In recent years, huge g…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US
Vicious Giant Hornets With Venomous Sting Spotted For First Time In US As if a global pandemic and worldwide economic crisis aren't enough to occupy us, there's now news of the arrival of a vicious, freakish-looking hornet with a venomous sting in the United States for the first time. Asian giant hornets can use shark-fin shaped appendages to destroy a beehive, decapitating its victims in a matter of minutes. “It’s a shockingly large hornet,” said Todd Murray, Washington State University's Extension entomologist and invasive species specialist. “It’s a health hazard, and more importantly, a significant predator of honey bees.” That's especially concerning sin…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
NY Takes Action Against Invasive Insect NY Takes Action Against Invasive Insect
NY Takes Action Against Invasive Insect After the discovery of the spotted lanternfly was found in New York for the first time in September, the state is taking new steps to stop the spread of the invasive insect. In a news release, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced it has issued a quarantine that will restrict the movement of certain goods brought into the state from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  The lanternfly is a pest from Asia that primarily feeds on a wide variety of plants such as grapevine, hops, maple, walnut, fruit trees and others. Left alone, the insect could impac…

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by Kathy Reakes