MDAR Pest Alert Newsletter: February 2025
This is the February 2025 edition of the Mass. Pest Alert newsletter, brought to you by the Massachusetts Dept. of Agricultural Resources.
Here are the top 4 things to keep an eye out for this month:
- BioBlitz: The id portion of our invasive species-themed BioBlitz is in full swing! We have 409 observations still to be identified, including plants, bugs, and mushrooms. Take a look and see if you recognize any of them!
- Forest Health: Wondering what happened to a patch of trees near you last summer? Or maybe just curious about the state of forest health in Massachusetts? Check out the MA DCR’s Forest Health Aerial Survey Map!
- Plants: Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is under consideration by the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group (MIPAG) for listing as an invasive (or likely invasive) species. MIPAG is looking for additional documentation of this species growing in the wild in order to better understand its invasive potential.
- Invasive Species: This week (February 24-28) is National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Take a few minutes to brush up on the species you might spot now and the ones that will emerge in the spring.