‘Nuisance pests’: These are the invasive species to watch out for in North Carolina
From stinky trees that can fall on your car to creepy crawlers that can kill your plants, there’s no shortage of invasive plants and pests in North Carolina.
But as more North Carolinians head outside to enjoy the warm, sunny weather of spring and summer, there are things you can do to help prevent the spread of invasive species and even help experts eradicate some.
Here’s what to know about the invasive species in and around North Carolina and what you can do to help keep them at bay:
What is an invasive species?
Invasive species are defined, according to the Department of Agriculture, as “plants, animals, and other living organisms” that are introduced to ecosystems where they are “non-native” or “alien,” which “causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.”
In an increasingly “global ecosystem,” NC State professor Kelly Oten told the Observer, more invasive species are able to get around through “global commerce and trade.”
“It’s one of the unintentional consequences of bringing in materials from all around the world,” said Oten, an assistant professor and extension specialist with a focus on forest health.
Invasive species in North Carolina
Common invasive plants and pests in North Carolina include:
- Bradford Pears, though ubiquitous in some suburbs, are both non-native and problematic, Oten says. Their “structures are pretty weak,” meaning branches can fall off and cause damage to cars, homes and more. They also have an unpleasant smell, and “it basically takes over areas” where native plants belong.
- The emerald ash borer is an invasive insect that’s been in North Carolina “for eight to nine years now,” Oten said, and is in 60 counties and counting. The “very fast spreading” bug “is basically killing all of our ash trees,” she added. They typically have a flat back and green wing covers.
- The hemlock woolly adelgid, another invasive pest, first hit North Carolina in the 1990s, according to Oten, “and continues to be a problem.” The bugs, which are small and sometimes have a cotton-like white coating, are primarily a nuisance in communities with hemlock trees.
Some species haven’t been confirmed in North Carolina yet but are in neighboring states and worth looking out for, including:
- The spotted lanternfly, a “cicada-sized” insect with spotted wings, may look “beautiful,” Oten cautions, but can create serious headaches for communities. “It sucks the juices out of plants, many different types of trees and other ornamental plants,” she said. “It is going to be a big, big problem if it comes to North Carolina.” It’s also “one of those insects that will flock around you,” she added.
- The Asian longhorned beetle is another invasive species, and it’s been spotted as close as Charleston, South Carolina, Oten said. “This is one that attacks a lot of different species, but primarily maple,” she said. “A lot of people have maple as ornamental trees. It’s also our second most common tree in our native forests.” The beetles will “basically just turn a tree into, like, Swiss cheese … The tree just falls apart.”
What about Joro spiders?
Another pest that’s been in the news recently is the Joro spider, a type of spider that’s been found in nearby states. Despite headlines proclaiming that they’re “giant” and “venomous,” experts say they’re relatively harmless.
And there have so far been no confirmed reports of them in North Carolina, according to Oten.
“Whether or not it will be invasive is to be determined,” she said.
How to stop invasive species
When it comes to species that are potentially encroaching from neighboring states, Oten says it’s important for everyone to, literally, watch out.
“The two big ones that we want people to keep their eye out, for now, are the spotted lanternfly and Asian longhorned beetle,” she said. “And the reason for that is they have not been found in North Carolina, yet. And that’s the operative word here: yet.”
If found early, she explained, “response programs” can be launched that could potentially “eradicate” the invasive species before they do major damage to the ecosystem.
To assist with that process, Oten recommends, you should take a picture of the pest or plant you spot and report it to the proper authorities, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and poolsidepests.com. You can also email badbug@ncagr.gov.
“People say ‘Stop it! Kill it!” and, yes, that’s great. We also want that to happen, but please, please, please tell someone first and take a good picture,” she said.
Another step North Carolinians can take to prevent the spread of invasive species, according to Oten, is avoiding moving firewood.
“Moving firewood can easily move some of these organisms to new areas,” she said.
If you have plants or trees on your property that are vulnerable to an invasive species, you should also watch them closely for symptoms.
“If we’re talking about emerald ash borer, for example, if someone has an ash tree in their front yard and it’s infested, then I would highly recommend either treating it with insecticide that can protect the ash tree or removing it,” Oten said.
And if you’ve got an invasive plant on your hands, there are means for getting rid of them. The NC State Extension Service, for example, has even launched a “Bradford Pear Bounty,” which will provide residents with a replacement tree that’s native to their community for removing a Bradford Pear.
The program isn’t in Charlotte yet, Oten said, but there are plans to expand it.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 4:43 PM.
