This is the May 2026 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: Sign up to receive our newsletter via email.
MDAR’s Spotted lanternfly Survey Team is reporting that SLF egg masses started hatching in Massachusetts late last week, with tiny, black SLF nymphs now active in some parts of the state. Hatch will continue over the next several weeks, based on the weather – that means there is still time to remove any unhatched egg […]
This is the April 2026 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: Sign up to receive our newsletter via email.
States in the southeastern USA are reporting that spotted lanternflies are starting to hatch from egg masses. We expect hatch to happen in Massachusetts in May. Keep an eye out for these pinhead-sized black and white insects if traveling to or receiving goods from states south of Massachusetts with known spotted lanternfly infestations. If you […]
Our next spotted lanternfly webinar is coming up on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 10am. Hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), this quarterly webinar series provides stakeholders with the most current information about SLF in Massachusetts. The May session will feature an update about the SLF biological control research project from Hannah […]
This is the March 2026 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: Sign up to receive our newsletter via email. The image credits: Alden Dirks, iNaturalist; Ronald F Billings, Texas A&M […]
Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, or “SLF”) is an invasive insect that feeds on tree-of-heaven, grapevines, maple trees, and many other types of plants. While it has been found in more than 100 cities and towns across Massachusetts, there are currently no confirmed infestations of this insect on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, or Nantucket. Because of […]
National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 23 to February 27) is a great time to check out the latest information about invasive species of concern in Massachusetts and what to do if you see one. Here’s what to keep an eye out for in the coming months so that you can help: What you might […]
This is the January 2026 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: Sign up to receive our newsletter via email.
To follow up our fall MEGa BioBlitz, we’re holding an Identification Blitz during National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 23-27). Help us identify as many of the species from this fall’s BioBlitz as possible! Between this year’s project and last year’s, we still have 448 out of 817 observations that need an ID. To participate, […]