The Aliens Have Landed!

A while ago, we blogged about "Aliens Have Landed: Exotic Invasive Species of New England," an ABC book about invasive species written by students at the Fall Brook Elementary in Leominster, MA. We're happy to report that to help get the word out about invasive species, Ms. Fiandaca and her class have generously allowed us to share a digital copy of "Aliens Have Landed" for anyone to view and print out. Perhaps it will inspire other groups of children to create their own guides.

Please note that the file is 10Mb and may take a while to download.

ALB Maple Posters Now Available!

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has developed a new Asian longhorned beetle poster that highlights the threat that the beetle poses to maples and other hardwood trees. The poster is full-color, 18" by 24" and includes high-quality images generously shared by several photographers.

The poster focuses on the potential impact of ALB on Massachusetts maple trees and the state's maple syrup industry if this invasive pest were allowed to spread. Later this month, MDAR will distribute copies to attendees at the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association's Annual Meeting in Buckland, MA. The posters are also free to anyone in Massachusetts planning to do outreach about ALB, and are ideal for use by conservation organizations, schools, nurseries, maple product retailers, and others wanting to help spread the word about ALB. Look for free copies at New England Grows, the Lumber and Building Materials Expo, and maple-related events throughout the year. Individuals can also download a high-quality printable pdf of the poster.

Fall Brook Elementary Students Write Book About Invasive Species

Students at Fall Brook Elementary in Leominster, MA have written an ABC book about invasive species titled, "Aliens Have Landed: Exotic Invasive Species of New England". The book details exotic pests from the Asian longhorned beetle to the zebra mussel.

The students, now in the sixth grade, created the book last year in their science class as part of a Community Service Learning Project focusing on educating students and community members about invasive species.

Each page of the book, designed for grades 1-3, was written by a different student and describes the damage to the environment caused by non-native pests. One student wrote about the Asian longhorned beetle, "You wouldn't want to find one of these climbing up your hardwood trees!" Another wrote about invasive species in general, "Spread the word about these dreaded invaders!" The entries in the book are accompanied by inventive and colorful drawings.

Teacher Lynn Fiandaca said the students "loved everything about the project" and became experts on the invasive species they studied. She said she was "impressed with their dedication to learning and sharing information with the community. They really did develop a sense of stewardship and commitment to keep our local ecosystem healthy and diverse."

To help get the word out about invasive species, Ms. Fiandaca and her class have generously allowed us to share a digital copy of "Aliens Have Landed" for anyone to view and print out. Perhaps it will inspire other groups of children to create their own guides.

The Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project (MIPOP), created by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, often sends teachers information about invasive species, including flyers, posters and DVDs. Staff from MIPOP also visit schools in MA to give talks to students about the Asian longhorned beetle and other invaders. Teachers interested in ordering outreach materials or scheduling talks can contact jennifer.forman-orth (AT) state.ma.us.

Learn About Invasive Forest Pests at "Emerald Ash Borer University"

Those seeking to learn more about the emerald ash borer now have a great new resource available. "Emerald Ash Borer University" is a collaborative effort by the U.S. Forest Service, Michigan State University, Ohio State University and Purdue University. The website offers free webinars with topics from the latest research on EAB to the most effective ways to get the word out about this pest. Past webinars are archived so you can always go back and view any information you might have missed

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, “EAB”), native to Asia, was first discovered in the U.S. in Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has been found in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and was most recently discovered this past June in New York. EAB causes damage to ash trees by disrupting water and nutrient transport as the larvae feed on the inner bark; eventually, this damage kills the tree. The pest attacks all species of ash, including green, white, black and blue ash, and is considered a serious threat to nursery operators, forest products industries, and parklands.

Help protect Massachusetts ash trees: If you think you have seen EAB, submit a report and photos, or call our Pest Hotline at 617-626-1779. Any specimens you capture should be placed in a jar and kept in the freezer.