PA Plantings

I just found the following web site. I will have to start reporting and using it for invasive species monitoring: There is a lot of data on these maps about where invasive species are found right now. EDDMapS - Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System Invasive Species Mapping Made Easy! Real time tracking of invasive species occurrences Local and national distribution maps Electronic early detection reporting tools Library of identification and management information Japanese Stiltgrass ( Microstegium vimineum) photo by Mike Slater

Over at the Blog " Through Handlens and Binoculars "  Scott Namestnik has a good post about how to separate the native form of Common Reed Phragmites australis ssp americanus from the invasive European P. a. ssp australis. There is also a link to an excellent  power point presentation of   " A Phragmites Field Guide :  Distinguishing Native and Exotic Forms   of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) in the United States".   by Jil Swearingen and Kristin Saltonstall. _____ updated Sept. 28th to fix the links.

I just learned about The Invasive Species Weblog at the 2007 Weblog Awards (Voting going on through Nov. 8th.) in the Best Science Blog category It is full of great information and links about invasive plants and animals.

There is an article in the P hiladelphia Inquirer yesterday about the biological control program for Mile-a-minute vine ( Polygonum perfoliatum ) A minute Weevil Rhinoncomimus latipes has been extensively tested to be sure it will only eat the mile-a-minute plants (I hope it is well enough tested!) and has been released in this area. The Philadelphia Inquirer said: "At last count, more than 66,000 weevils have been released at 61 sites in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia." ................... "A week and a half ago, Judy Hough-Goldstein, of the University of Delaware, stood before a group of experts at an invasive-plants conference at the University of Pennsylvania, providing an update on R. latipes . The prognosis was good. "A lot of plant mortality this year," she said. "Go, weevils!" Either way, not even the most optimistic think the weevil will expunge mile-a-minute from the landscape. The idea is to restore balan...