Pollinator Week 2013 -- Jun 17-23, 2013
Pollinator Partnership.
Six years ago the U.S. Senate's unanimous approval and designation of the final week in June as "National Pollinator Week" marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown to be an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.

Buzz Over to the #PollinatorWeek Festival (Jun 14, 2013)
USDA. Blog.

Species Profile -- Kudzu Bug
USDA. NAL. National Invasive Species Information Center.Kudzu bugs are native to Asia and were detected for the first time in the U.S. in Georgia in 2009. Kudzu bugs damage soybeans and other legume crops.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold … (May 20, 2013)
USDA. Blog.
In this case it is green, a brilliant emerald green, and it is chomping its way through America's forests. The emerald ash borer (EAB) may look pretty, but it is killing our ash trees in our forests and backyards. Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week (May 19-25) is the time of year when you might see adult beetles flitting about among your ash trees. It is also the time of year you may unknowingly move this pest if you pack firewood when you kick off the summer camping season. The EAB attacks ash trees and all ash trees are at risk.

Record-setting Burmese Python Captured in Miami-Dade Co. (May 20, 2013)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A Miami man has caught and killed the longest Burmese python ever captured in Florida: 18 feet, 8 inches. The Burmese python is an invasive species that has negative impacts on the Everglades ecosystem and its native wildlife. The public is asked to report sightings of exotic species to IveGot1.org or 888-IveGot1. There is also a free smartphone app: IVEGOT1.

USDA's Novel Cell Line Identifies All Foot-and-Mouth Virus Serotypes (May 16, 2013)
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
USDA scientists have developed a new cell line that rapidly and accurately detects foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), which causes a highly contagious and economically devastating disease in cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals. "This important breakthrough is an example of how ARS scientists are working to improve agricultural productivity in the face of increasing demand for food," said ARS Administrator Edward B. Knipling. "This new cell line will help in the global effort to control a disease that can cause significant economic losses."

USDA and EPA Release New Report on Honey Bee Health (May 2, 2013)
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA and the EPA released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health. The report states that there are multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure. See ARS information on Honey Bee Health and Bee Informed Partnership information for Preliminary Results: Honeybee Colony Losses in the U.S., Winter 2012-2013.