Help spot invasive species early and learn about what’s living on or near the plants they threaten! The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Invasive Pest Outreach Program is running a series of BioBlitzes using iNaturalist. This October 1 to 15, the focus will be on checking a few trees in your area for Spotted Lanternfly and Asian Longhorned Beetle. Pick a spot in Massachusetts where trees are growing, and record all the living things you see on or near those trees. All MDAR asking you to do is:
Pick a spot where trees are growing
Record all the living things you see on or near those trees, using the iNaturalist website
How to participate:
- Sign up for iNaturalist if you don’t already have an account.
- Join our iNaturalist project.
- Choose an area with at least one of the following plants that spotted lanternfly and/or Asian longhorned beetle like to eat: grapevines, tree-of-heaven, maple, willow, elm, and birch
- Any time from October 1 to 15, 2024, check the plants you chose, and photograph any insects, egg masses, holes, or tunnels that you see. Pay particular attention to anything that looks like spotted lanternfly, or any holes or tunnels in the trunk or branches of trees that look like Asian longhorned beetle damage.
- Upload your photos to iNaturalist and add them to MDAR’s project
Participants can take part in the event any time from October 1 through 15, and can select as many or as few trees as they want. More info, including how to register for a free iNaturalist account and what to look for, can be found over at our pest blog: https://massnrc.org/pests/blog/?p=3464 (or, if you are already an iNat pro, join the project directly via https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/spot-invasive-insects-a-massachusetts-bioblitz)
You can also download a flyer to print or share at https://massnrc.org/pests/linkeddocuments/BioBlitzFlyerOct2024.pdf