Forest pests are a broad category of organisms, all of which can drastically change the structure and composition of a forest or managed grove. This group can include fungi, insects, annelids, bacteria and viruses and has historically been responsible for the decimation of the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), Butternut (Juglans cineria), and American Elm (Ulmus americana).
While there are countless native species of fungi and invertebrates that are part of the native ecosystem, many forest pests move quickly across a landscape and are very resistant to attempts to manage their spread. Therefore it is critical to monitor for the introduction of new forest pests so that we can discover them before they are well established.
Currently, the Lower Hudson PRISM is monitoring for the following species through volunteer monitoring programs.
- Southern Pine Beetle (Dendrictonus frontalis)
- Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)
For more information and to volunteer, follow the link for the specific program.
