Control Solutions Inc.
By Heather Patterson, Technical Service Manager
There’s a hearty list of non-native and invasive pest species that pest management professionals (PMPs) are tasked to manage, and one in particular has become quite the problem in recent years. The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, or SLF) has continued to spread from its original detection in Pennsylvania across the Mid-Atlantic and into parts of the Midwest and Southeast. Threatening vineyards, orchards, hardwoods and numerous ornamental plants, SLF has become a routine headache for PMPs in many quarantine counties.
Even if SLF hasn’t reached your service territory yet, it’s worth keeping on your radar as its range continues to expand.
Successful SLF programs rely on an integrated pest management (IPM) approach that combines inspection, monitoring, vegetation management, destruction of egg masses and insecticide applications when needed. Train applicators to recognize all life stages, especially the distinctive mud-like egg masses found on trees, vehicles, pallets and other outdoor surfaces. Prioritize inspections around preferred host plants such as tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), grapevines, maples and other susceptible ornamentals.
When chemical control is warranted, combining contact and systemic insecticides can provide both immediate knockdown and longer-term suppression. Treatment timing is critical, however. Early-season management targeting newly hatched nymphs often is more effective than waiting until large adult populations become established later in the summer. Because adults are highly mobile, customers also should understand that reinfestation from surrounding areas is common and that multiple treatments may be necessary during periods of heavy pressure.
Finally, stay up to date with your state’s extension service and regulatory agencies, as quarantine requirements and management recommendations continue to evolve.
BASF
By Desiree Straubinger, BCE, CP-FS, Technical Services Representative
Invasive species continue to challenge pest management across the U.S., with insects like SLF and emerald ash borers (Agrilus planipennis, or EAB) among the most significant threats. SLF, now established in multiple states, damages trees by feeding on sap and promoting mold growth. Meanwhile, EAB has spread to much of the country, killing millions of ash trees and reshaping urban and natural landscapes.
Early detection is key. Routine inspections, accurate identification and monitoring high-risk items like firewood and outdoor equipment can help limit spread. Incorporating IPM strategies — combining mechanical, cultural and chemical controls — supports more effective, long-term results.
Client communication is equally critical. Educate customers on how invasives spread, especially by hitchhiking on vehicles, firewood and outdoor items. Encourage simple actions such as inspecting and cleaning belongings before moving them and avoiding the transport of firewood. Clear, practical guidance helps clients become active partners in prevention.
To stay informed, rely on resources like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS.usda.gov), state extension services, and the National Invasive Species Information Center (InvasiveSpeciesInfo.gov) for updates and best practices. Ongoing education ensures everyone is prepared to respond to evolving invasive threats.
Nisus
By Dr. Jamel Sandidge, BCE, National Director of Technical Services
Invasive pests and insecticide-resistant cockroaches may seem like unrelated problems, but they often follow the same biological playbook.
Consider the Turkestan cockroach (Periplaneta lateralis). Introduced into the United States only a few decades ago, it possesses biological traits that have allowed it to adapt quickly, reproduce rapidly and establish populations across many regions of the country. Today, Turkestan cockroaches are displacing American (P. americana) and Oriental (Blatta orientalis) cockroach species in many habitats because of these adaptations.
Insecticide resistance develops along a similar pathway. Within a cockroach population, a few individuals naturally possess genetic traits that help them survive an insecticide application. Those survivors reproduce, passing those advantageous genes to future generations until resistant populations become increasingly common.
Whether preventing the spread of an invasive species like the Turkestan cockroach or delaying resistance in German cockroaches (Blattella germanica), early intervention is critical. Eliminating new introductions and integrating multiple control strategies reduce the opportunity for advantageous traits to establish or spread. Using products with multiple modes of action or applying multiple products that have different modes of action can help circumvent the advantageous traits that are making eradication difficult. Whether it’s an invasive species or insecticide resistance, today’s survivors become tomorrow’s population.
Envu
By Matt Remmen, Senior Technical Services Manager
Asian needle ants (Brachyponera chinensis) are an invasive species spreading throughout the eastern U.S. They can be challenging to detect because they often nest in hidden locations such as mulch, leaf litter, landscape timbers and beneath stones. One unique trait is their tandem-carrying behavior: Workers may transport nestmates to food resources rather than forming the obvious foraging trails seen with many other ant species.
When inspecting a property, spend extra time checking shaded, moist areas and watch individual foragers closely. Tracing their movement back to harborage sites can reveal satellite nests and help improve overall management outcomes.
Rockwell Labs
By Nick Godfroid, BCE, Technical Specialist
While Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) and wild boars (Sus scrofa) may come to mind as more memorable invasive species, the invasions that influence PMPs the most tend to be slightly different variations of pests with which we’re already familiar. For instance, in the southeastern United States, many PMPs currently are dealing with Asian needle ants. This invasive species can go unnoticed by the untrained eye because it easily can be misidentified and grouped with “little black sugar ants.”
They definitely aren’t like the locals, though. They forage differently, scout and trail differently, and have a painful sting. An observant PMP can identify these ants and treat them appropriately.
Asian needle ants are highly carnivorous and prefer protein baits. An abamectin ant gel with protein is a great choice, applied where foragers are active, or an imidacloprid granular bait with high protein content.
Get to know your local species, learn which imposters may be present in your territory and keep a keen eye out for anything new. Who knows? You may stop the next ecological invasion yourself!
J.T. Eaton
By Isabelle Lucero, Education and Compliance Officer
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is an invasive species that has the potential to harm livestock, companion animals and even humans.
This species was first officially detected in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, the Asian longhorned tick has become established in the United States, spreading to many eastern states. These ticks have the ability to multiply rapidly by a process called parthenogenesis, where females can reproduce without the need for males.
Although Asian longhorned ticks primarily are threats to U.S. livestock through the transmission of serious diseases, they are known to spread diseases to humans outside of the United States.
Prevention is essential to managing this invasive tick, as well as most other tick species:
1. Establish a tick prevention treatment program for livestock and companion animals to kill ticks before they can transmit disease.
2. Make sure any potential tick habitat is reduced by cutting grasses short and reducing brush and woody debris around pastures and lawns.
3. Control for tick hosts, like rodents, that transport ticks onto pasture or residential land. There are many tools available in this regard, including combination tick and rodent bait.
Arkion Life Sciences
By BJ Harrington, Sales and Marketing Director
Tick control is getting harder, especially with invasive species becoming more prevalent and resistance becoming more of a concern.
One of the most practical ways PMPs can fight this is by rotating a natural pesticide into their program. Natural options such as essential-oil blends, botanical oils or microbial products typically act through different pathways than most conventional treatments. Alternating a natural pesticide with a standard pesticide every few applications or seasons can break a continuous evolution that builds resistance.
Use the natural product on lower-pressure properties, as a follow-up after a chemical application, or in sensitive areas where a reduced synthetic load is preferred. Monitor tick activity with sampling and adjust the rotation if control rates decline.
This simple rotation extends the useful life of chemical tools, lowers overall active-ingredient use and helps keep treatments effective longer.
Syngenta
By Lisa Eppler, Technical Services Manager
Invasive pests have been spreading across the United States, including EAB, brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) and Asian long-horned beetles (Anoplophora glabripennis). In particular, the recent spread of SLF across multiple states is a good example of how quickly invasive species can become established, creating unexpected and significant challenges.
Here are five areas of importance to help you stay ahead of these pests:
Inspections. Keep an eye out for pests that seem unusual for the area. Sometimes an invasive species is discovered simply because something didn’t look quite right.
Watch lists. Many states and universities regularly publish lists of invasive pests. Staying familiar with these species helps you recognize potential problems early.
Documentation. If you suspect you’ve found an invasive species, take clear photos, collect specimens and report through the proper channels to help specialists confirm the identification.
Reporting. Clients often are the first to notice something new. Encouraging them to report unusual insects might lead to early detection.
Treatment. Invasive pests generally are drawn to feeding on plants, so a systemic adulticide often is an ideal control method.
When it comes to invasive species, early action can make the difference between a manageable problem and the next headline pest.
<p>The post Tips & Tricks: Invasive species first appeared on Pest Management Professional.</p>
from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/tips-tricks-invasive-species/
Sacramento CA
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