Otsego Conservation District

Otsego Conservation District

“Your gateway to natural resource management”

Invasive Species

An invasive species is a species that does not naturally occur in a specific area and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. When invasives establish, native species are often lost and biodiversity of the area decreases. Invasive species typically have similar characteristics that enable them to invade a landscape, such as:

Abundant seed/ quick reproduction
Easily dispersed
Ability to survive in a wide range of conditions
Rapid growth/ short life cycle

By being able to recognize invasive species you can help protect our natural resources. This page lists only a few of the species that pose a threat in our area. For more information, click on the links below.

		Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata A fast-spreading biennial woodland herb Can displace native herbaceous plants and dominate the forest floor in 10 years. Leaves and stems have a garlic odor when crushed Several methods are effective at controlling garlic mustard Click here for a garlic mustard fact sheet

Photos courtesy of Carol Buxton
© Caroline Savage		Phragmites Phragmites australis Also known as the common reed Can grow 6-15 feet tall, creating a “forest” that blocks access to the water and displaces any other plants Reed beds can alter wetland hydrology, degrade wildlife habitat, and increase fire potential. Spreads horizontally by sending out rhizome runners which can grow 10 or more feet in a single growing season Click here to ID native vs. invasive phragmites
		Eurasian Watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum Forms dense mats in shallow areas of lakes Interferes with swimming, fishing and entangles propellers Spreads when plant pieces break off and are carried away Looks similar to a native species, northern watermilfoil Click here to ID native vs. invasive watermilfoil

© Harvey Kirsch		Bladder Campion Silene cucubalus A deep-rooted perennial that can reproduce by both seed and by sprouting from lateral branches of its taproot Severed root pieces can produce new plants One plant can produce up to 20,000 seeds Native to Europe and Asia
© US Forest Service		Spotted Knapweed Centaurea maculosa A very aggressive species that can infest large areas quickly Native to central Europe Forms a symbiotic relationship with a certain fungus in the soil, which “steals” carbon from surrounding plants, reducing their ability to compete Knapweed loves disturbed soils and is often the first to establish “Motorized vehicles are a huge contributor to the spread of knapweed. Nearly 2,000 seeds may be caught underneath a vehicle after driving through one knapweed patch. Up to 10% of those seeds can still be stuck there ten miles down the road.” (www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com)
From www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroZine/		Asian Longhorned Beetle A large wood-boring beetle native to China and other Asian countries Is a threat to deciduous hardwoods Probably came from China in wood crating or pallets Adult beetles are poor fliers, usually flying short distances to nearby trees There are similar-looking native longhorned beetles that have evolved with our forests Click here to learn more about identifying Asian Longhorned Beetles
From http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/		Emerald Ash Borer Larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients Probably came from Asia (where it is native) on solid wood packing material Adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark when they emerge in the spring Woodpeckers like to eat the larvae. An ash tree with lots of woodpecker damage can be a sign of possible infestation.

Help stop the spread of invasive species!

For more information on invasive species and how they can be controlled, please visit:

Emerald Ash Borer Information
www.emeraldashborer.info/

Michigan DNR:
www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12146---,00.html

Michigan State University’s Invasive Species Initiative:
http://www.invasivespecies.msu.edu/

Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group:
www.nps.gov/plants/alien/factmain.htm

The Stewardship Network (click on Tools & Resources)
www.stewardshipnetwork.org

Wisconsin DNR:
http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/

USDA Plants Database:
www.plants.usda.gov/java/noxiousDriver/

Also check out:

Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest An Illustrated Guide to Their Identification and Control by Elizabeth J. Czarapata This is an informative, colorful, comprehensive guide to invasive species that are currently endangering native habitats in the region.

Don't let invasives take over...

Photo courtesy of www.treecanada.ca

Asian Longhorned Beetle (Adult)

Asian Longhorned Beetle (Pupa)

Photo courtesy of www.biologyreference.com

Photo courtesy of www.nap.edu

As you can see kudzu is a very invasive plant!