Removing invasive trees from a property can be a painstaking endeavor. The time and labor required to complete such a task are only rivaled by the relentless expenditures. However, what needs doing must be done. When the job is completed, the joy and pride at the sight of a restored and healing patch of property can replace the worries of sore bones and light wallets—at least momentarily.

Nice story, but not one with a profitable ending.

A recent study explored how small farmers could stop losing money through invasive tree removal and start turning logs into loot. The researchers suggested that if farmers used the logs of non-native trees as a substrate to cultivate edible mushrooms, it would offer an additional income stream to help offset the cost of removal, produce potential profit, and enhance the ecosystem. The research focused on producing shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) on small farms in the Southeastern U.S. to explore the feasibility and profitability of this method.

The project revealed that Chinese tallowtrees (Triadica sebifera) could effectively produce marketable shiitake mushrooms. Although native oak logs (used as the control) yielded approximately three times more mushrooms compared to Chinese tallowtree logs, mushrooms grown on tallowtree logs were significantly larger, weighing over one ounce each. This could potentially increase the market value per mushroom.

During this study, the potential of five other invasive trees was also tested. These included Chinese tallowtree (Triadica sebifera), Chinaberry (Melia azedarach), silktree (Albizia julibrissin), earleaf acacia (Acacia auriculiformis), and Melaleuca quinquenervia. However, only the Chinese tallowtree logs proved to be economically viable as a substrate for shiitake mushroom cultivation.

This innovative approach not only diversifies income sources for farmers but also enhances environmental health by recycling invasive tree biomass. Log mushroom farming has been a well-established practice in Asia for over 1,000 years. Using non-native trees as a substrate to cultivate edible mushrooms could be a feasible alternative to burning, chipping, or dumping.

Read the research: Bowers et al., 2024

Please Call a Plumber

When the pipes back up, most of us call a plumber to fix the problem before the waterworks get out of control. In Western Australia, experts are doing just that—but instead of the kitchen sink, they’re sealing off agricultural pipelines to prevent a devastating ecological flood caused by a very familiar invasive pest.

A united front made up of the Western Australian Government, researchers, Traditional Owners, and pastoralists has joined forces to combat the invasive and poisonous cane toad (Rhinella marina). For 15 years, cane toad populations have skyrocketed, wreaking havoc on local ecosystems and outpacing control efforts.

One factor that makes these amphibians such formidable invaders is their ability to travel over surprisingly long distances. Initially, they would disperse at about 10 kilometers (~6 miles) per year, but they have since accelerated and can now cover 43 kilometers (~26 miles) per year—more than four times their original speed. Coupled with their rapid reproductive capabilities, in which a single female can lay up to 30,000 eggs, it's no wonder their numbers have reached overwhelming levels. However, this team has a new plan ready to launch: the Toad Containment Zone.

To tackle the cane toad invasion, the WA Government is funding the first phase of a 150-kilometer barrier stretching from Broome to the Great Sandy Desert. Agricultural water is the primary permanent water source in this area accessible to the cane toads. Since the surrounding area is an arid desert, the toads rely on leaking pipes and accessible water troughs. Planned upgrades will target agricultural water infrastructure, patch leaks, fence off troughs, and “dry up” the toads' water supply. The Toad Containment Zone will act as a landscape barrier that will hopefully restrict and help manage the overwhelming population of cane toads. Let’s hear it for the magic of plumbing and infrastructure maintenance.

Read the article: Can Drying Them Out Stop the Cane Toads’ Invasion of WA?

Don’t Mess With Texas Citrus

TISI is offering FREE diagnostic services if you suspect your citrus has either the psyllid pest or the Citrus Greening pathogen, or you would like your citrus plants to be part of our screening survey.

The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) and the Citrus Greening pathogen (Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus) are threatening citrus in multiple Texas counties. By taking samples and monitoring the spread, it is easier to ensure that you and your neighbors are not affected. This pest and pathogen are extremely detrimental to Texas citrus, both economically and agriculturally. The presence of either can greatly affect citrus yield.

If you are interested in having your citrus trees checked or being part of the survey, please contact invasives@shsu.edu. If you are located within 200 miles of our headquarters, we can collect samples and/or provide traps and monitoring services. Otherwise, we will send you easy step-by-step instructions so you can do it yourself. Not only will we share the results and management strategies (where applicable), but you will become part of a multi-county monitoring survey that is striving to improve the health of Texas citrus!

Also Available: TISI offers educational workshops that highlight information about the Asian citrus psyllid, the pathogen Citrus Greening, and what you need to look out for in your own backyard. If you are interested in this, TISI will provide trapping materials, assist with management strategies, and more. Don’t waste another second.
Help us stop the spread!

This program is designed to provide the education needed for professionals and students who are managing or learning to manage invasive species. The courses include the most current invasive species identification, control, and management techniques, and how to comply with local and federal regulations.

Participants may register and enroll at any time, and will receive a certificate of invasive species management from NAISMA upon completion of the program.

All live webinars are open to the public. Recorded webinars are available to members of NAISMA.

NAISMA 2024 Webinar Schedule:

• December 5, 1pm CST- Annual Biocontrol Summit: Aquatic Weed Biocontrol- Project Progress and Innovative Tools. REGISTER.
• December 18, 1pm CST- Canadian Biocontrol Experience: Past, Present and Future. REGISTER.

Join us for an informative webinar featuring a range of essential campaigns aimed at preventing invasive species. This webinar will cover five critical initiatives designed to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species:

• Don’t Let It Loose
• Don’t Move Firewood
• Stop Aquatic Hitchhiking
• Squeal on Pigs
• PlayCleanGo

November 20, 2024 @ 2:30 – 4:00 pm CST

Register HERE

This webinar will discuss various control options for invasive plants during the dormant season within forests found in some of the northeastern regions. The end of the growing season doesn’t mark the end of control efforts. The dormant season can be an advantageous time to target certain invasive and competing plants. Learn about the various control options that can be used during this time of year.

Watch HERE.
Webinar provided by the Penn State Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

The TISI Director of Research & Education/Outreach, Ashley Morgan-Olvera, was pleased to present again at the 2024 Texas Master Naturalist Conference (October 24-27) in San Marcos, Texas, engaging with dozens of TMN chapters, AgriLife Extension, and TPWD members from throughout the state. Public outreach and education are vital components of successful invasive species management. We thank you for the continued support that has allowed for the growth and success of TEXASINVASIVES.ORG!

Please remember to:

• REPORT emerging invasives at TEXASINVASIVES.ORG homepage.
• GOT CITRUS? Contact invasives@shsu.edu to schedule a psyllid trapping session.
• WANT WORKSHOPS OR TRAININGS? Contact arm001@shsu.edu for in-person or virtual presentations on your choice of invasive species. Availability after May 1st

Invasive Spotlight:

Black Velvet Leatherleaf Slug
(Belocaulus angustipes)

The black velvet leatherleaf slug (Belocaulus angustipes) is typically jet black with two black ocular tentacles and a tan stripe running along the underside. The mantle covers the entire length of the body and has a velvety, wrinkled appearance. The ventral portion of the mantle, which runs along either side of the tan stripe, features black flecks along the margins. Both the breathing pore (pneumostome) and anus are located posteriorly. The slugs can measure up to 3.5 inches in length when fully extended. Juvenile slugs are not as dark and have a much lighter underside.

These slugs are typically nocturnal but often emerge following a rainstorm. They live underneath fallen trees, planks, flowerpots, and similar places that provide shelter from direct sunlight, extreme heat, cold, and low humidity. Their diet consists of both live and decaying plant matter. The slugs have a large appetite, which can be detrimental to many types of plants, particularly grasses (especially St. Augustine) and agricultural crops. Due to their voracious appetite, they are occasionally found tucked into the heart of crop plants, such as heads of lettuce or cabbage.

Outside the U.S., the black velvet leatherleaf slug has been reported as an important vector of the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis, which causes abdominal angiostrongyliasis in humans. Although Angiostrongylus parasites have not yet been reported in black velvet leatherleaf slugs collected in the U.S., it is recommended that when handling these slugs, you either wear latex gloves or handle samples using a plastic bag. After handling live slugs, hands should be washed thoroughly with hot soapy water and rinsed with alcohol or hand disinfectant.

Ideally, someone from the Texas Invasive Species Institute (TISI) would like to pick up any specimens found, but this is not always feasible. If you are interested in sending a suspected specimen to TISI, where the team checks it for Angiostrongylus nematodes, please use the email below, and instructions will be provided. Specimens can be stored in 70% ethanol.

For more information about the black velvet leatherleaf slug, click here. If you believe you have identified a suspected black velvet leatherleaf slug, please take a picture and REPORT IT! to invasives@shsu.edu.

Enjoy monthly videos about invasive species and/or people willing to teach us more about them. There are some amazing citizens and professionals around the world that poke, prod, chase, dive, and investigate everything they can about these alien invaders. Jump into this cinematic rabbit hole. You never know what new wonders you may discover.

Is There a Link Between Ticks and Invasive Plant Species? WCAX-TV Channel 3 News.

A new research study is underway in Vermont, examining the density of black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) nymphs found in various invasive plant species to determine if ticks exhibit a preference for specific invasive plants. Data collected from this study could support efforts to manage tick populations, tick-borne diseases, and invasive plant species more effectively.

Fire Ants - Most Successful Creature That Has Ever Lived. Free High-Quality Documentaries.

I bet you didn’t know there are at least 22 different known species of fire ant. The species you are most likely familiar with is Solenopsis invicta. This video shares all the things you never thought you wanted to know about this stinging invasive, including how they float, how they live, and who they fear.

The Lionfish Crisis: How One Fish Is Destroying Coral Reefs. Wild Waters.

Lionfish (Pterois volitans) are having a devastating impact on native species and coral reefs in the Gulf, Caribbean, and Western Atlantic. This includes the heroic efforts of divers, conservationists, and entrepreneurs committed to controlling its spread through exciting lionfish derbies, cutting-edge hunting techniques, and groundbreaking scientific research.

Texas A&M AgriLife Plays Vital Role in Addressing Wild Pigs Issues
The AgriLife Extension Service addresses the ecological and economic damage caused by wild pig (Sus scrofa) through education, management strategies, research, and partnerships. By providing resources and collaborating with landowners and agencies, they aim to reduce the destructive impact of wild pigs across the state. ksstradio.com

Detective Dogs, Toads, And Artificial Intelligence Can Help Control Invasive Species
Professionals and agencies have resorted to many methods over the decades to eradicate invasive species. Whether it’s from man’s best friend, tweaking nature with science, or getting an assist from AI… sometimes we just need to ask for help. discovermagazine.com

Invasive Plants Drive Homogenization of Soil Microbial Communities Across US, New Study Finds
Invasive plants are reshaping the soil microbial communities. In areas dominated by invasive plants, the disturbing synchronicity of soil microbiome is seen across different ecosystems and geographic regions, which is not the case in areas dominated by native plants. phys.org

Pythons Can Eat Bigger Prey Than We Knew
A new study reveals that Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in Florida can consume prey even larger than previously thought, posing an unprecedented threat to local wildlife. How is this reshaping the Everglades' ecosystem, and what does this mean for native species? uc.edu

Nonnative Plants Are a Major Force Behind Global Insect Invasions, Study Finds
New findings link the spread of nonnative plants to the rise in insect invasions worldwide, challenging traditional explanations for these ecological shifts. The study delves into how nonnative plants may be causing a cascade effect of insect invasions and suggests that preventative attention should be focused elsewhere. phys.org

Invasive Silver Carp Reduce Movement in Chicago-Area Water
Invasive silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) do not seem able to advance beyond a particular stretch of the Illinois River. Research shows the fish seem to be avoiding contaminants from the Chicago Area Waterway. What happens now? sciencedaily.com

Double The Snakeheads: Study Finds Invasive Species May Spawn Twice a Year in The Bay
When researchers examined many of the invasive female snakehead fish (Channa argus), aka Chesapeake channa, found in the upper Chesapeake Bay, they found that most of them carried eggs in two sizes: one large and one small. chesapeakebaymagazine.com

Invasive Flathead Catfish Impacting Susquehanna’s Food Chain, Researchers Find
The invasive flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) has spread throughout the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. The initial impact of the large predator was unknown, but a research team is beginning to understand what flatheads are eating and how their presence is affecting native aquatic species in the river. psu.edu

New Paper Shows Invasive Species Removal Is a Nature-Based Solution for Climate Resilience
Using a “scalable framework for restoration monitoring,” a group of researchers was able to provide supporting data that eradicating invasive species from a natural habitat and allowing it to recover is an effective “nature-based solution”. islandconservation.org

Invasive Seaweed May Better Adapt to Changes Than Native Species in Hawaii Waters
Invasive seaweeds use fascinating survival tactics to thrive along Hawaiʻi's vulnerable shorelines, outcompete native species, and adapt to changing marine ecosystems. This could have implications for coral reef health, seafood sustainability, and watershed management. phys.org

Invaders of Texas workshops train volunteers to detect and report invasive species as citizen scientists. Workshops, which are free, are designed to introduce participants to invasive species and the problems they cause, cover aspects of invasive species management, teach identification of local invasive plants, and train participants to report invasive plants using the TX Invaders mobile application. The workshop is 7 hours long (usually on a Saturday, but scheduling is arranged with each individual host group). The workshop satisfies Master Naturalist training requirements.

Sentinel Pest Network workshops serve to increase the awareness and early detection of a set of particularly important invasive species to help prevent their spread into Texas or their further spread within Texas. Participants learn to identify species such as the Emerald Ash Borer, Cactus Moth, Asian Longhorned Beetle, and other pests of regulatory significance, and to report them. The workshop is 3.5 hours long. The workshop satisfies Master Naturalist training requirements.