TIPPC Takes Action Against Japanese Climbing Fern

This March, the Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Council (TIPPC) submitted a formal request to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to add Lygodium japonicum (Japanese Climbing Fern) to the state Noxious and Invasive Plants list.  



This action sets a precedent for adding non-agricultural invasive species, as TIPPCs' request is the first to follow the TDA established protocol. If approved, it would be illegal to  sell or distribute Japanese Climbing Fern without a permit.  This will help control the spread and protect Texas forests.                  

Hello Bastard Cabbage.  
Goodbye Bluebonnets.

Bastard cabbage - Don’t let it if fool you! The bright yellow flowers towering over the blues and reds of our native bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush are an invasive species with an overwhelming presence along Texas' roadways this year.  Rapistrum rugosom (Bastard Cabbage) is taking up space and resources meant for our native wildflowers. This is not going un-noticed by Texans, and there is a rising level of media-coverage and concern over the spread of bastard cabbage.  

Learn more about controlling the spread!

Zebra Mussel DNA Found in North Texas Lakes

In October, low levels of Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra Mussel) DNA was found in Eagle Mountain, Lewisville, Ray Roberts, Arrowhead, Bridgeport and Caddo Lakes. Levels were not high enough to suggest that colonies are forming, but they do suggest that boaters may be transporting them.  Read More.

New Invasive Plant Mapping System: CalWeedMapper

The California Invasive Pest Council has created a new online mapping tool, the CalWeedMapper. They are using a different method of mapping distribution, USGS quadrangles, to produce seamless statewide maps. Their data comes from meetings with local experts who mapped distribution, spread and management by USGS quad, and are also linked to the Calflora database.

A user can select a region (a county, a CWMA, a national forest, etc.) to see which species are potential targets for eradication, containment or surveillance based on their distribution. This design is intended to support regional strategic planning at different scales.

Calling all Cogongrass Warriors!

The University of Georgia's Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health has updated their website so that Cogongrass flowering sightings can be easily reported. Cogongrass has started to flower along the Gulf Coast and in Florida and reporters can enter whether the observed plant was flowering or seeding. This information will help to determine when seed formation begins.

This will greatly aid in learning where flowering is occurring and how it progresses, thus preparing others to anticipate flowering for survey and treatment purposes.  Click here to report sightings and view the 2011 flowering map.
 

Action Taken Against Giant Salvina in Northeast Texas 
Cypress Valley Navigation District approved spending to spray for Salvinia molesta (Giant Salivinia) in Clinton and Carter Lakes- Read More.

Austin's New Bee-Friendly Policy
A City of Austin draft ordinance requires the city’s health authority to relocate bees instead of killing them with pesticides - Read More.

Wild Texas Burros Live Another Day
Texas Parks and Wildlife has suspended the invasive Burro eradication program due rising public criticism. Read More.

Weeds Across Borders Convenes This April in Cancun, Mexico
Weeds Across Borders (WAB) is a biennial conference where professionals and organizations from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. meet to discuss weed management and regulation in North America.- Learn More.

Texas's Own Commander Ben a Big Success in Washington D.C.
Commander Ben led "Invasive Hunter Academy" for Kid’s Day at National Invasive Species Awareness Week in Washington D.C. - Learn More.

Citizen Science Workshops

Sentinel Pest Network & Invasive Species Workshops
These workshops supplement the Invaders of Texas program by training citizen scientists to identify and report invasive pests of regulatory concern like Emerald Ash Borer and the Cactus Moth while they are out looking for invasive plants. The morning session will cover non-native, invasive pests, and the afternoon session will be a refresher course on non-native, invasive plants that occur in your area. 

Thursday April 12, 2012
Location: Big Bend National Park (Big Bend, TX)
Contact: Jane Brown

Tuesday April 17, 2012
Location: Trinity River Audubon Center (Dallas, TX)
Contact: Dana Wilson

Saturday April 21, 2012
Location: Fort Bend County Agriculture Center (Rosenberg, TX)
Contact: Ft. Bend County Master Gardeners

Saturday May 12, 2012
Location: Livingston, TX
Contact: Piney Woods Lakes Chapter Master Naturalists 

Thursday May 17, 2012
Location: Brazoria County AgriLife Office (Angleton, TX)
Contact: Cradle of Texas Chapter Master Naturalists

Saturday May 19, 2012
Location: Aransas County AgriLife Extension Facility (Rockport, TX)
Contact: Kris Kirkwood

Rare Plant Monitoring & Invasive Species Workshops
Invaders of Texas has teamed up with the National Forest Foundation and the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas to offer a rare plant monitoring component to our citizen scientist workshops. Day 1 will be in the classroom and Day 2 will be in the field.

Friday - Saturday April 13-14, 2012
Location: Martin Dies State Park and Sabine National Forest (Jasper, TX)
Contact: Minnette Marr