The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is hosting a series of webinars to educate the green industry and environmental groups about Spotted Lanternfly. Organized as quarterly updates, these free webinars will provide attendees with the most current information about this invasive pest. Dates: Spring Update: 5/18/21 (Archive) Summer Update: 8/17/21 (Archive) Fall Update: 11/16/21 […]
There have been lots of stories about spotted lanternfly in the news lately, including the recent discovery of a satellite population of this pest here in Fitchburg, MA. States with large, well-established infestations of spotted lanternfly, overwhelmed with complaints from the public, are advising residents to kill the insects and no longer require reporting them […]
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is hosting a series of webinars to educate the green industry and environmental groups about Spotted Lanternfly. Organized as quarterly updates, these free webinars will provide attendees with the most current information about this invasive pest. Dates: Spring Update: 5/18/21 (Archive) Summer Update: 8/17/21 (Register now! http://bit.ly/MDARSLFAugust21) Fall […]
Are you a Mass Certified Arborist, a licensed pesticide applicator, or a Mass. Certified Landscape Professional looking for education credits? Do you just want to learn more about insects and nature this spring? UMass Extension is offering a series of free webinars about invasive insects to help you earn those credits! Several of the sessions […]
By now, most people have realized that there is not much to be worried about regarding the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia). Though it looks intimidating, and it preys on honey bees and other colonial insects, it has yet to be spotted outside of Washington state and Canada. We know that seeing lots of stories […]
News broke this weekend about the appearance of the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia, aka the “murder hornet”) in Washington state. The Asian giant hornet (“AGH”) is the largest known species of hornet in the world, and a highly aggressive predator of honey bees. The hornets attack hives in a brutal way, decapitating honey bees […]
You might be feeling stuck at home right now, but all around you, the spring season continues. As the days get warmer, trees are budding and new insects are emerging on a daily basis. That makes now the perfect time to start a nature journal, to chronicle the changing environment and keep track of the […]
Discovery of Single Adult Insect Highlights Importance of Vigilant Reporting of this Pest The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) announced today that a single dead specimen of the invasive pest known as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was reported and confirmed in December 2018 at a private residence in Boston. As a result, MDAR is […]
Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed in four new municipalities: Dover (Norfolk County) Harvard (Worcester County) Holliston (Middlesex County) Lexington (Middlesex County) Here is an updated map: If you suspect you have seen EAB in an area not indicated on the map above, get a photo of the damage if you can, and report […]
This past April, the Mass Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) partnered with the Mass. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to host an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Preparedness Workshop in Pittsfield, MA. The day-long event provided attendees with an update on the current status of EAB in our state as well as information on the […]