Invasive Exotic Species

• Definition – An invasive exotic species (IES) is a species that is not native to an ecosystem and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health Impacts of Invasive Plants

• Second leading threat to biodiversity • Inhibit growth and reproduction of native and commercial species • Alter natural processes • Create monoculture landscapes • ~$120 billion/year cost for faunal and flora IES Why So Invasive?

• Imports from 1700 and 1800s • Rapid growth rates • Few native predators and pathogens • Prolific seed • Long lived seed • Persistent root and rhizomes • Wide range of habitats • Allelopathy • Alter cycles in their favor • Can suppress natives Management Principles

• Adaptation – Sharing strategies – Monitoring strategies – Incorporating new strategies

• Collaboration – Raise awareness with adjacent landowners and community

• Restoration – Restore natural habitats IES Management

• Work with regional partners • Manage core infestations • Manage front lines • Manage outlier areas • Raise awareness to stop importation Principles For IES Management

• Make a plan • Eradicate Find IES early – – Work from outside – Map out infestations towards center – Prioritize

• Prevent entry and spread • Restore – Do not plant IES – Replace IES with – Take precautions to avoid invasionsaggressive native species Invasive Species

http://plants.alaska.gov/invasives.php IES Control

• Treat new plants before seed production • Avoid manual/cut removal when seeds present • Always follow herbicide label instructions • Wear appropriate PPE • Minimize disturbance near IES infestations or anticipate invasion • Once removed, restore native species

IES Control Methods

• Herbicide

• Manual removal

• Mechanical removal

• Cultural methods – Burning – Grazing

• Mulching or solarizing

Invasive Species Threats in Kentucky Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii

• Introduced from Asia

• Deciduous shrub to small tree

• Arching habit, opposite branching , dark green leaves, paired red to orange berries

• Bark flaky and older branches hollow (native honeysuckles are solid)

http://www.gri.msstate.edu/ipams/species.php?SName=Lonicera%20 maackii Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii

• Relatively shade tolerant

• Forms dense thickets in open forests, forest edges, old fields, and roadsides

• Crowds out native regeneration

http://ohiodnr.com/Default.aspx?tabid=22715 • Depletes soil moisture and nutrients

• May be allelopathic

• Berries lack fats and nutritional value – Needed by birds for long flights

http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/research/VMG/bhnysckl.html Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii

• Small plants – Manual or mechanical removal • When no fruit • Remove all roots – Foliar spray

• Glyphosate, Garlon 3A, Garlon 4 at http://www.dowagro.com/vm/application/applications.htm 4% solution w/surfactant • April – October – Basal Spray • Garlon 4% solution w/diesel • Winter

Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii

• Large plants – Cut and stump spray or paint with a 20% solution of glyphosate • Summer or fall

http://www.dowagro.com/vm/application/applications.htm • Prescribed burning – Spring Chinese Silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis Chinese Silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis

• Perennial grass from eastern Asia as ornamental

• Used as bioenergy or paper pulp in Europe

• Tall, densely bunched, 5 to 10 feet in height

• Panicles turn silvery to pinkish in fall

• Blades green with white upper midveins

• Dried grass standing with some seed heads during winter

Chinese Silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis Chinese Silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis

• Shade tolerant • Crowds out native plant species

• Roadsides, forest margins, and adjacent disturbed sites • Highly flammable, fire hazard

Chinese Silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis Chinese Silvergrass Miscanthus sinensis

• Cutting may be ineffective – Resprouting – Spread rhizomes

• Burning can increase

• Cattle grazing

• Foliar spray – Glyphosate a 4% solution – Glyphosate 4% w/Arsenal AC 0.5% solution – September or October – Multiple applications to regrowth 2 ft tall

Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata

• Introduced from Europe in the 1800’s – Culinary and medicinal uses • One to several stems from the same rootstock • Basal rosette of kidney-shaped leaves (1st year) stays green through winter • Alternate heart-shaped to triangular leaves (2nd year) • Garlic odor when crushed • Terminal clusters of small white flowers

Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata

• Shade tolerant, but favors edges

• Ballistic seed dispersal (10ft)

• 2-6 year seed dormancy

• Overruns and eliminates native plants and wildflowers

• Allelopathic

Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata

• Manual removal – Before seeds form – Pull up, bag/burn plants and seed pods – Repeat mow prior to pod development

• Repeated prescribed burns

• Propane torch individuals

• Foliar spray – 2% Glyphosate (April-June) – 2% Garlon 4 (March-May)

Winter Creeper Euonymus fortunei Winter Creeper Euonymus fortunei

• Native to Asia – Ornamental vine

• Evergreen climbing vine

• Opposite, glossy leaves

• Green flowers

• Pink-red capsules hold orange seeds

• Flowers and fruits after climbing

Winter Creeper Euonymus fortunei

Winter Creeper Euonymus fortunei

• Shade tolerant

• Avoids wet areas

• Climbs and overtops trees

• Forms dense ground cover

• Runner, node rooting, bird, animal & water dispersed

Winter Creeper Euonymus fortunei Winter Creeper Euonymus fortunei • Manual removal

• Cut climbing stems

• Burning has little effect

• Foliar spray Garlon 4 or glyphosate 4% solution with water & surfactant (Fall and repeat in spring)

• Large stems – Garlon 3A or glyphosate injections Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica • Introduced from Asia – Ornamental – Erosion control – Wildlife

• Perennial semi-evergreen vine

• Climb 80’ high

• Opposite leaves

• Tubular flowers

• Black berries

Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica

• Most common invasive plant in the south • Wide range of habitats • Shade tolerant • Spread by node rooting, some animal dispersion • Seed survival less than 2 years • Still planted in wildlife food plots • Can girdle small trees • Smother vegetation

Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica

• Manual removal

• Repeated burning

• Goats

• Foliar spray glyphosphate 2% or Garlon 4 3-5% solution w/surfactant (July to October)

• Stump spray with 20% glyphosate or Garlon 3% solution with surfactant (July to October) Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora

• Introduced from Asia – Ornamental – Wildlife habitat – Living fences

• Arching/climbing shrub

• Thorned

• 2-9 alternate, pinnately compound leaves – Toothed hairs on leafstalk

• 5 petal, white flowers Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora • Prolific seeder – Seed life of 10-20 years – Animal dispersed

• Root sprouts when touches ground

• Replaces natives

• Monoculture thickets Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora

• Eaten by goats (may spread seeds)

• Bulldoze

• Weed wrench small stems

• Foliar spray – Repeated 4% glyphosate and water (May-October)

• Large stems – Cut and spray with 20% glyphosate with surfactant (Jan- Feb or May –Oct) – Basal spray with 20% Garlon 4 with diesel Winged Burning Bush Euonymus alatus Winged Burning Bush Euonymus alatus

• Imported from Asia as ornamental shrub

• Bushy shrub up to 12’

• Opposite leaves – Red in fall

• Corky, winged branches

• Paired orange seed in reddish capsules

Winged Burning Bush Euonymus alatus Winged Burning Bush Euonymus alatus • Shade tolerant

• Root suckers & animal dispersed seed

• Ornamental

• Creates dense thickets shading natives Winged Burning Bush Euonymus alatus Winged Burning Bush Euonymus alatus

• Manual removal

• Foliar spray – Garlon 4 or Garlon 3A 3% solution

• Large Stems – Garlon 4 20% solution basal bark (Jan-Feb or May-Oct) – Cut stump glyphosate 20% solution with surfactant Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima

• Chinese native • Shallow rooted deciduous tree • Up to 80’ tall • Alternate, pinnately compound leaves • Green flowers • Twisted winged fruit • Burnt peanut butter smell Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima

• Shade and flood intolerant • Fast growing – Sprouts can grow 14’ in 1 year • Prolific seeder – 2 year old seed producers – 300,000 seeds – 330’ traveling distance • Root sprouts • Allelopathic • Creates dense thickets Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima

• Do not cut or pull w/out herbicide • Large trees – Stem injections • Garlon 3A (midsummer) – Stump spray • Saplings – Basal spray: Garlon 4 20% solution w/ diesel fuel • Seedlings – Foliar spray: Garlon 4 or Garlon 3A 2% solution w/water and surfactant (July – Oct) Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica

• Introduced from Asia in • Reddish, hollow bamboo- the 1800’s like stems

3-12ft perennial shrub • Alternate leaves, with tiny • white flowers

• Clonal • Winged seeds

Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica

• Wide range of growing conditions

• Dominates riparian areas and roadsides

• Spreads through seed, stem, rhizomes

• Dead standing plants pose fire hazard

Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica

• Foliar Spray – Aquatic safe Garlon 3A 2% – Aquatic safe Garlon 3A 1% w/ Glyphosate 2% – Surfactant

• Large stems – Cut and treat with 25% glyphosate or Garlon3A – Foliar spray sprouts/seedlings Japanese Stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum Japanese Stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum

• Nepalese browntop

• Introduced from Asia

• Annual grass

• Flat short leaf blades with off-center veins

• Dried whitish-tan grass remains standing in winter

Japanese Stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum Japanese Stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum

• Very shade tolerant • Impacts insect populations

– Northern pearly eye • Prolific seeder butterfly – 100-1000 seeds • Not eaten – 3 year soil life

• Colonizes disturbed areas – Flood zones, roads, edges, trails

• Spreads by hitchhiking

• Fire hazard

Japanese Stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum Japanese Stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum

• Clean shoes, gear, dogs • Avoid disturbance • Manual removal – Prior to seed formation – Mow – Repeated hand pulling • Burning ineffective • Repeated foliar spray with manual removal – Early summer – 2% glyphosate/water, surfactant

Kudzu Pueraria montana Kudzu Pueraria montana

• Introduced from China & Japan – Erosion control – Livestock feed – Folk art

• Woody vine – Deciduous – Legume

• Alternate, pinnately compound 3- leaflet leaves

Kudzu Pueraria montana Kudzu Pueraria montana

• Grow 1’ per day in spring (60’/year)

• Primarily spread by runners

• Blankets trees and ground – Smothers natives – No light can penetrate Kudzu Pueraria montana Kudzu Pueraria montana

• Very difficult to control – Estimated cost up to $200 per acre for 5 years • Foliar spray – 3% solution Tordon 101 or 2% Tordon K – July to October for successive years • Glyphosate injection for large stems • Prescribed burning – In spring can clear debris – Cannot control • Grazing – Reduce over years Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus

• Introduced from Asia as a • Stem olive drab with raised, showy, ornamental vine whitish, corky dots

• Climbing vine, woody vine • Fruit yellow orange to tan • Leaves alternate, bluntly – Persist through winter toothed

Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus

• Shade tolerant but located in • Hybridization with rare American forest openings, margins, bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) roadsides, and fields

Aggressive vine growth, root • sucker, bird, animal, human dispersed seeds

• Vines constrict and girdle stems

Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus

• Goats

• Foliar spray – 3% mix of Garlon 4, Garlon 3A, or glyphosate with surfactant (July to October)

• Large stems – Basal spray lower 16” w/Garlon 4 as 20% solution diesel fuel – Cut stems and treat cut surfaces w/ Garlon 4 or glyphosate as a 25% solution – Inject Garlon 3A or glyphosate Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

• Introduced from Europe and Asia

• Perennial herb – 4-10’ tall

• Covered in pubescence

• Magenta flower spikes

• 30-50 stems from single root

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

• Natural and disturbed wetlands, water edges

• Alters biochemical and hydrological processes

• Create monotypic stands

• Affects animal habitat

• 2.5 million seeds annually – Viable for many years

• Water, birds and animal transport

Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria

• Pull up small plants

• 1-2% glyphosate foliar spray – Follow aquatic regulations

• 4 beetles imported – Root-mining weevil (Hylobius transversovittatus), – 2 leaf-feeding beetles (Galerucella calmariensis and Galerucella pusilla) – Flower eating beetle (Nanophyes marmoratus) – Impact on non-target species is considered low

Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata

• Introduced from China and Japan in 1830

• Small thorny deciduous tree

• Alternate leaves

• Silvery scales under leaves

• Silvery drupe that turns red – 80lbs/year

Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata

• Shade intolerant • Drought tolerant • Nitrogen fixation • Invades open areas • Forms dense thickets • Often used for wildlife, reclamation Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata • Manual removal

• Foliar spray – Glyphosate 2% solution w/water and surfactant

• Cut stump – 50% solution of glyphosate solution w/ water

• Basal bark – 25% Triclopyr w/oil to bottom 12-15” of tree