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According to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist and research leader Tracy Leskey, laboratory trials show that brown marmorated stink bugs are attracted to blue lights—lights that attract fewer non-target insect species. She also tested a combination of visually attractive blue lights with chemically attractive pheromones. These studies about the effectiveness of both light and pheromone-baited traps will help researchers develop more effective stink bug traps in the future.

Researchers investigate questions related to fisheries, climate change, invasive species, mercury pollution, land use, water quality, ozone depletion, and more.

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See also: Early Detection of Invasive Species in Northeast Temperate Network Parks for more field guides

The spongy moth, (Lymantria dispar), formerly known as the "gypsy moth," continues to spread throughout North America, threatening deciduous trees and impacting humans. This non-native, foliage-feeding insect currently occupies only about one-third of its possible host distribution in the United States. Efforts to reduce its impact and spread represent one of the largest and most successful federal and state agency integrated pest management programs against a forest pest.

This new General Technical Report (GTR), published by the Northern Research Station, synthesizes information about the Slow the Spread Program, its accomplishments, and provides a framework for future landscape-level integrated pest management.
See related resource: National Slow The Spread (STS) Program

Citation: Coleman, Tom W.; Liebhold, Andrew M., eds. 2023. Slow the spread: a 20-year reflection on the national Lymantria dispar integrated pest management program. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-212. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 130 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-212.

The mission of PPQ's Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance (SITC) Program is to detect and prevent the unlawful entry and distribution of prohibited and/or non-compliant products that may harbor exotic plant and animal pests, disease or invasive species. SITC officers work across the country to carry out this mission, checking wholesale markets, distribution points, retail stores, restaurants, and the internet to look for restricted or prohibited agricultural commodities. SITC also partners with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other government agencies in anti-smuggling efforts at air, land, and sea ports of entry nationwide.

If you think something was illegally imported —even if unintentionally—report it at 1-800-877-3835 or sitc.mail@usda.gov. All submissions are kept anonymous. Your information will not be shared publicly.

U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1251; Researched and funded by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Thousands of pigs in China have been dying since August 2018. The cause is a virus that infects a pig’s macrophages, a type of white blood cell that acts as a warrior against disease-causing invaders. This viral disease, called African swine fever, can wreak havoc in a pig’s body causing internal bleeding and resulting in almost 100 percent mortality of the infected pigs. Because African swine fever is highly contagious and deadly to pigs, economies and the food supply are being affected around the world.

African swine fever has been on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) radar for several years. S&T intensified vaccine research efforts in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in November 2018. The African Swine Fever Task Force was born, based out of S&T’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC).

Note: Webarchive; provides economic background information

Inadvertently introduced in the northeastern United States in the 1930s, mile-a-minute weed is a highly aggressive invasive plant that is replacing native species in many areas of the Nation. While a biocontrol agent has been identified, finding and reaching dense patches of mile-a-minute weeds has been a problem for land managers. The solution may be drones carrying environmentally friendly pods packed with tiny weevils.

The African clawed frog was first discovered in California in 1968. It was imported for laboratory research and the pet trade. This species can negatively impact native amphibian and fish populations.

African swine fever was first identified in Kenya in 1921 and spread among domestic and wild pigs. This disease is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs; one of the most economically devastating diseases of swine. African swine fever has never been found in the U.S. Illegal entry of swine products and byproducts presents the largest potential pathway for the entry of African swine fever virus.

The Argentine black and white tegu is native to South American and the first established population in the U.S. was documented in Florida in 2006. It's means of introduction was via the pet trade and the Argentine black and white tegu is a generalist omnivore that preys on many native species.

Asian jumping worms are native to east-central Asia and have been present in the U.S. since the late 1800s, but have been recently invading natural habitats in the Northeast and Midwest. These worms were introduced possibly through the horticultural trade or by anglers using them as bait. Asian jumping worms affect forest habitats by altering soil properties, resulting in reduced food resources for native species.

The Asian longhorned tick is native to eastern Asia. It was first detected in New Jersey in 2017. The full public health and agricultural impact of this tick and spread is unknown. It is a potential vector of several human and animal diseases present in the U.S.

Beach leaf disease was first observed in Ohio in 2012. It's means of introduction is unknown, although it may have arrived in North America through the transport of wood with an invertebrate vector. It causes a disease of beech trees that disfigures leaves and can lead to tree mortality. 

Box tree moth was confirmed in the U.S. in 2021 after it was imported on nursery plants shipped from Canada. This moth feeds primarily on boxwood plants (Buxus spp.), where heavy infestations can defoliate plants and lead to plant death.

Boxwood blight was first discovered in the United Kingdom in 1994; its origin is unknown. Boxwood blight was detected in the U.S. in 2011 and the means of introduction is unknown. It is a fungal disease of boxwood plants, which are widely used as landscape ornamentals.