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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
News
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
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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
News
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
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