GO NATIVE!

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Native plants in home gardens are essential for providing pollinators safe habitat in which they can thrive. Climate change, overbuilding, invasive species and other factors have destroyed large areas previously home to our insect and bird populations. With so much land being "chopped up", putting native plants in your garden will add to those from your neighbors’ gardens creating larger spaces for pollinators to call home. ​ Pollinators, who work hard to maintain the ecological systems we depend on (like food growth!), need your help! Here are links to articles, webinars and websites with information on native plants and why they're so important to pollinators, and to us.
Articles:

• How and Why to Use Native Plants

• Choosing the Right Native Plants

Webinars:

• Adventures with Oddities: Strange and Noteworthy Natives (courtesy of the Ecological Landscaping Alliance) with Dan Jaffe (formerly of the Native Plant Trust)

• Landscaping with a Purpose, What's Diversity Got to Do with It? with Randi Eckel

Websites:

• Native Plant Trust

• Grow Native Massachusetts

• Ecological Landscape Alliance

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (Native plants by state)

• Native Plants Lookup (Audubon)

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ATTRACT BIRDS TO YOUR GARDEN

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Find bird friendly native plants with this handy tool from the National Audubon Society. Just enter your zip code to view a list of bird friendly native plants for your area. Search results can be refined by plant type or bird species.

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SPOTTED LANTERNFLY - SERIOUS THREAT!

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Courtesy of UMass Amherst The Spotted Lanternfly Arrives in Massachusetts!! The MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) announced on 9/28/21 that a small, established, and breeding population of the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was detected in Worcester County, MA in the city of Fitchburg. This finding was confirmed by state officials. What Should You Do? It is important to learn the life stages of the spotted lanternfly and be able to identify their eggs, immatures, and adults. At this time, it is particularly valuable to learn how to ID spotted lanternfly adults and egg masses. If you think you have found any of the life stages of this insect, report them immediately here: https://massnrc.org/pests/slfreport.aspx In particular, if you know of tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)* growing nearby, check that preferred host for adults and egg masses and report anything suspicious using the link above. That said, spotted lanternfly adults and eggs masses (and immatures when active) may be found just about anywhere. Should You Treat? At this time, the only established (breeding) population of spotted lanternfly in Massachusetts is in a small area of Fitchburg, MA. Therefore, there is no reason to be preemptively treating for this insect in other areas of Massachusetts at this time. If you suspect you have found spotted lanternfly in additional locations, please report it immediately to MDAR at the link above. If you are living and working in the Fitchburg area, please be vigilant and continue to report anything suspicious. What is at Risk? The spotted lanternfly feeds on over 103 different species of plants, including agriculturally significant crops (apple, peach, grape, etc.) and trees and shrubs that are important in our managed landscapes and natural areas. Due to various factors, spotted lanternflies are also a significant public nuisance once they become established. For further details regarding what is currently known about this population in Fitchburg, MA, read MDAR's press release. https://www.mass.gov/.../state-agricultural-officials...

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ASIAN JUMPING WORMS - SERIOUS GARDEN THREAT!

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Asian jumping worms are a relatively new invasive species, but they are rapidly spreading across the United States. They can be found in the Southeast, along the Eastern Seaboard, and in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and some Northwestern states. The first records of Asian jumping earthworms date back to the late 19th century; unfortunately, relatively little is known about them compared to European earthworms. European nightcrawlers are now being displaced by the destructive Asian jumping worms. There are at least three species: Amynthas agrestis, Amynthas tokioensis, and Metophire hilgendorfi that co-occur. Asian jumping worms devour organic matter more rapidly than their European counterparts, stripping the forest of the layer critical for seedlings and wildflowers. Jumping worms grow twice as fast, reproduce more quickly, and can infest soils at high densities. In areas of heavy infestation, native plants, soil invertebrates, salamanders, birds, and other animals may decline. These invasive worms can severely damage the roots of plants in nurseries, gardens, forests, and turf. They, along with other invasive worms, can also help spread invasive plant species by disturbing the soil. Asian jumping worms are an annual species; the adults die after the first freeze. But the cocoons, which are about the size of a mustard seed, will survive the winter and hatch when temperatures reach 50°F for a consistent period. One worm can produce many cocoons without mating. Because they are more aggressive and their populations can grow faster than the common European species, they may out-compete existing worm populations. Cocoons are very small and dirt-colored, so they are nearly impossible to spot with your own eyes. Cocoons can be spread easily in potted plants, on landscaping equipment, mulch, tire treads, and even hiking boots. One telltale sign of an infestation is a very uniform, granular soil created from worm castings. The texture of this soil is often compared to coffee grounds. When you scratch the top layer of soil you will see the worms thrashing about with an erratic, snakelike movement. These worms, which can reach 6 inches in length, are much more active than European nightcrawlers. The Asian jumping worm can be found on the soil surface and in the leaf litter, making them easy to find. They can live anywhere from urban parks and suburban backyards to rural forests. You are also very likely to find them in compost piles and along roads. The Asian jumping worm has a prominent band around the body of the worm, called the clitellum, where cocoons are produced. The band completely encircles the body, is milky white to light gray, and is flush with the body; the body looks metallic. On European nightcrawlers, the clitellum is raised or saddle-shaped and reddish-brown in color and does not wrap entirely around the body. (Courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension) It's important to learn about and eliminate these invaders from our gardens! The following links will give you a background and ways to identify and try to control these worms before they create irreparable damage. https://extension.unh.edu/resource/plant-sales-and-jumping-worms http://warren.cce.cornell.edu/gardening-landscape/warren-county-master-gardener-articles/invasive-asian-jumping-earthworms http://ccetompkins.org/resources/jumping-worm-fact-sheet https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/jumpingWorm.html Voracious Asian Jumping Worms Strip Forest Floor and Flood Soil with Nutrients | UW Arboretum (wisc.edu)

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