NYS is seeking volunteers like you to look for two invasive species in your area: Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) and Tree-of-heaven (TOH). You can help protect New York's agriculture and forests by knowing what to look for and how to report it to New York’s official invasive species database, iMapInvasives (see the AGM, DEC, and Parks joint press release)

SLF is an invasive pest from Asia that feeds on a variety of plants including grapes, hops, and maple trees, posing a severe threat to NY forests and agriculture. SLF has been found in several locations in NY but has not yet spread to much of the state. One potential pathway for the spread of SLF is its preferred host plant, tree-of-heaven (TOH), which is already found in many locations across NY. Agencies and conservation partners across the state are working to protect our state resources from these invasive species, and are requesting help from volunteers to complement these efforts.

Attend the first webinar in this upcoming series to learn more about SLF, TOH, and how you can participate in this effort. Visit www.nyimapinvasives.org/slf for more information and to claim a grid square on the map to look for these species out in the field and report your findings to iMapInvasives.