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Tag: invasive insects

Approximately two dozen spotted lanternflies amass in a sunny spot on the side of a tree in a shady forest.

Does Multiple Mating Help Spotted Lanternflies Spread?  

Producing offspring from multiple fathers can add much-needed genetic diversity to populations of invasive insects, which often arise from a small number of individuals. New research confirms such multiple paternity occurs in spotted lanternflies, though to what degree it aids their spread needs further study.

Closeup of a elm zigzag sawfly larva, light green and slightly translucent in color, feeding on a green leaf. The larva has eaten a gap into the leaf from the edge that is roughly the shape of the larva but wider. The leaf and sawfly are photographed against a white background.

Here We Go Again: Meet the Elm Zigzag Sawfly, Another Non-Native Forest Pest

The elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) is now established in several places in North America. This non-native forest pest can be a threat to elm species and hybrids and is capable of large defoliation events. Will it turn into a full-blown invasive species, or simply co-exist with native herbivores in natural and urban forests? At this point, we don't know. A new review highlights elm zigzag sawfly biology, ecology, and management strategies in the U.S.