Virginia | National Invasive Species Information Center

Provides selected Virginia resources from agencies and organizations with an interest in the prevention, control, or eradication of invasive species.

Spotlights

Beech Leaf Disease Confirmed in Virginia
- Aug 18, 2021
- Virginia Department of Forestry.
- Beech leaf disease has now been confirmed in Prince William County – the first detection in Virginia. The disease affects American beech (Fagus grandifolia) trees and is associated with a foliar nematode. Symptoms include dark stripes between leaf veins, thickening and curling of leaves, and canopy thinning. Contact VDOF's forest health program if you see these symptoms. For more information, view this Beech Leaf Disease Pest Alert (Jan 2021) [PDF, 312 KB] publication.
  
  See also: More Information Relating to the First Report of Beech Leaf Disease in Virginia [Aug 2021) [PDF, 951 KB]
Firewood Quarantines
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Virginia State Parks.
- Invasive insect pests and diseases are threatening the future forests of Virginia. The transport of firewood is one of the primary means by which these harmful insects and diseases spread. Quarantines have been issued by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to restrict the movement of firewood from counties where the pests have been found to counties without them.
Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia
- Virginia Tech; Virginia State University. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
- A potentially very serious pest of grapes, peaches, hops, and a variety of other crops, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, was detected in Frederick County, Virginia, on Jan. 10, 2018. It is important to look for it and report any finds. The spotted lanternfly has also been reported on a range of ornamentals around the home and in the landscape; in high numbers, the insect can become a nuisance pest to homeowners.
Wavyleaf Basketgrass in Virginia
- Piedmont Environmental Council.
- Wavyleaf basketgrass is a new exotic grass rapidly moving into forests and meadows in Virginia and Maryland. The Piedmont Environmental Council is part of a Task Force committed to stopping this plant before it forms a thick carpet on our forest floors, crowding out native plants. If you think you spot wavyleaf basketgrass, please report your sighting.

State Specific Threats

Clemson Officials Find, Destroy Yellow-legged Hornet Nests in Beaufort County
- Aug 16, 2024
- Clemson University.
- The Clemson University Department of Plant Industry destroyed the first secondary nests of the yellow-legged hornet this month in South Carolina near Hilton Head Island. Yellow-legged hornets were also detected in November 2023 in a trap in South Carolina.
Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) - Invasive Species Status Report by State
- University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
- Includes invasive species by category for insects, diseases, plants, and animals.
  See also: Invasive Species Status Report by Congressional District
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database - Species Lists By State
- DOI. USGS. Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
- Provides fact sheets, maps and collection information for aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates occurring outside of their native range.
Pest Tracker - Exotic Pest Detection By State
- USDA. APHIS. Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS). National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS).
- Provides State pest detection contacts, recent state exotic pest news, links to state pest resources, and a list of state CAPS survey targets.
  See also: Pest List for information and maps, and CAPS Resource and Collaboration Site, includes National Priority Pest List.

All Resources

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Selected Resources

The section below contains highly relevant resources for this location, organized by source.

State and Local Government

Forest Health
- Virginia Department of Forestry.
Invasive Management Area Program
- Fairfax County Park Authority (Virginia).
Invasive Plant Species of Virginia
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Natural Heritage Program.
Plant Industry Services
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Urban Forestry - Invasive Plants
- Arlington Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources (Virginia).
Virginia Invasive Species
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Academic

Virginia Tech Invasive Species Working Group
- Virginia Tech. Fralin Life Sciences Institute.
Weed Identification Guide
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.