Invasive Pests In Spring – What Pests To Look Our For
The springtime means winter is over and we can finally open the windows and head outside to enjoy the day. But that warm freedom for us is the same for pests, and the month of April can be especially bad because a small population of them can explode into a nuisance that affects your home, yard and/or garden. In fact, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proclaimed April as the Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month.
The reason the USDA gave April that designation back in 2014 was to warn Americans that invasive plant pests and diseases pose serious threats to America’s crops and forests and that we have the power to prevent their spread. If not, the USDA says these pests can seriously harm the economy, environment, or even human health. So it’s no better time than the present to talk about what pests to look out for during the spring, so you can squish any potential hotspots around your area from growing out of control.
Pests And Their Insatiable Hunger
The USDA says a common theme with these invasive species is they are desperately hungry and have the potential to ruin millions of dollars worth of agriculture in the process in order to fill their stomachs during the springtime.
Listen to this: the USDA says one of the most notorious invasive pests, the emerald ash borer beetle, destroys tens of millions of American ash trees in our forests and communities across the country. Experts say they estimated the cost of all invasive species to our economy is around $120 billion yearly. Other species labeled as “invasive” include the Asian longhorned beetle, which starves trees to death by boring into them and eating their insides, as well as the gypsy moth.
Experts say other invasive pests in spring like the moths’ hungry caterpillar stage allows them to strip trees and bushes bare. The USDA has published a hefty list of other invasive species that can be found across the country. So if you’re ever wondering whether something you found is invasive or not, it’s a good resource to check.
Educate Yourself On The Pest That Live By You
Invasive species start breeding and finding ground during the springtime and get to enjoy the summer along with us. In order to stop the spread, and a tool you can use to check what pests are around your area, The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) suggests Americans visit “hungrypests.com”. It serves as a resource to show you what pests and diseases could threaten you, state by state. A simple few clicks can educate you enough on invasive pests in spring to take easy steps in preventing a total disaster waiting to happen from spreading invasive species around your neighborhood.
Knowing Is Half The Battle To Stop Pests
The April month awareness campaign stresses the “Seven Ways to Leave Hungry Pests Behind” which gives you some tips to stop them from spreading out of control. The USDA says these invasive pests can travel in and on the things we move and pack – including; firewood, plants, fruits and vegetables, outdoor furniture and agricultural products ordered online. One tip suggests you burn firewood where you buy it, instead of dragging it around with you everywhere you go until your final resting spot. That way, any serious pests looking for a free ride to their next meal can be stopped right in their tracks.
Another thing to keep in mind, especially when traveling abroad, is to contact your local USDA office before packing your bags with foreign fruits, vegetables, live plants, cut flowers and handicrafts made from wood or natural materials. These can all be homes for sinister pests to hide on the way to their next source of food. These above simple steps you take can save a forest or an entire industry from devastation by invasive species.
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