Invasive Species - What's New on NISIC's Site

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing its plans for eliminating ALB from Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina in 2024. 

APHIS and its partners are inspecting trees in quarantined areas in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina. The program removes infested trees at no cost to property owners. And they will not use insecticide treatments on residential properties this year. They will continue to respond to calls for assistance and provide outreach.  

APHIS continues its work developing new ways to eradicate the beetle.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing its 2025 plans for combatting Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) infestations in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina. Every year, APHIS and its partners evaluate and determine the most effective options for eliminating the pest from the United States.

This year, the ALB program will focus on inspecting trees in quarantined areas in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina, and removing infested trees at no cost to property owners.  State partners in New York and Ohio are exploring options for insecticide treatments in localized areas to protect non-infested trees from becoming infested with ALB. Program officials will monitor for the beetle’s presence and the movement of wood inside and around each infested area, conduct training sessions for compliance agreement holders, respond to calls for assistance, and perform outreach. APHIS will also continue coordinating with partners to develop new methods to eradicate the beetle. On March 14, 2025, 5.2 square miles were removed from quarantine in portions of Ohio. APHIS is planning to deregulate partial areas in Massachusetts and New York later this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is asking the public to look for and report signs of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). APHIS declares August is “Tree Check Month” and asks everyone to look for signs of this destructive, invasive beetle by checking trees on your property and in your community for damage. Left unchecked, ALB can cause infested trees to die.

The Gambian giant pouched rat is native to African. It was discovered in Florida in 2004, but was first introduced in 1999. The rat was released by an exotic pet breeder. This species is a large rodent capable of becoming highly destructive to agricultural crops and native species and may also serve as a vector of several diseases.

The honey bee varroa mite was first detected in Asia and was introduced to the U.S. in 1987. It's means of introduction was via commercial transportation of infested bee colonies. The varroa mite is a serious worldwide pest of the European honeybee and is a major cause of colony collapses.

Sweet orange scab is native to South America. It was introduced to the U.S. in 2010, most likely through the movement of infected nursery stock. It's a fungus affecting the fruit of sweet orange and mandarin cultivars.

The tomato leaf miner was originally thought to be native to Central America, but now believed to have originated in Peru. This pest is not yet present in the United States. It may be transported through the fruit trade and it's impact caused yield losses of up to 100% in tomatoes.

Citrus black spot was first discovered in Australia and was introduced to the U.S. in 2010. The means of introduction was possibly through the importation of unregulated and/or non-commercial infected fruit. Citrus black spot is a fungal disease of citrus that decreases yields by causing external blemished and premature fruit drop. 

The callery pear (bradford pear) is native is East Asia and was imported to the U.S. in 1908 and first sold commercially in 1961. Callery pear trees forms dense thorny thickets, produces flowers with an offensive odor, and produces large amounts of fruit that litter sidewalks. Additionally, the ‘Bradford’ cultivar is extremely susceptible to damage from storms due to branches having narrow crotch angles; these trees will also split under their own weight after 15-20 years of growth.

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.