• Download the Forum Programme

Please note, we are still confirming the subject of one talk in the Freshwater Session. Details will be made available shortly.

Registration for the 2012 Forum is free of charge and is now open at the following link:

• http://invasivespeciesireland.com/forum/2012-forum/

Please note that there are only ten places left for registration (Wednesday 25th April 14.40). We will close registration very shortly.

For more information visit the Invasive Species Ireland website: www.invasivespeciesireland.com

If you think you have seen this beetle in Ireland please report it to invasives.biodiversityireland.ie or contact the Department of Agriculture.:  info@agriculture.gov.ie, Lo-call 1890 200 510 or 01 607 2000.

Pres Release

“An outbreak of the Asian longhorn beetle (ALB), an exotic beetle pest which could have severe consequences for British trees, has been found in Kent the Food and Environment Research Agency confirmed today. This is the first time an outbreak of this pest has been found in the UK and it is being treated extremely seriously. Fera and the Forestry Commission are taking urgent steps to try to eradicate the outbreak before it has the chance to spread further afield.

Several larvae of the beetle have been found inside a poplar tree during a routine survey by the Forestry Commission at a site in the Paddock Wood area. Scientists from Forest Research had been monitoring an area around the site where an adult beetle had been found in 2009 and this is the first evidence of infestation. It is thought the beetles originated from wood packaging used to import stone from China at an adjacent industrial site.

The beetle is not native to the UK, and poses a serious threat to a very wide range of broadleaved trees and shrubs such as maple (including sycamore), elm, horse chestnut, willow, poplar, birch and some fruit trees.

Speaking about action to eradicate the outbreak Martin Ward, Head of Plant Health Policy at Fera said, “Our Plant Health Inspectors and the Forestry Commission are conducting a survey to determine the extent of this outbreak. They will be contacting all those within the survey area over the next few days and weeks with a view to inspecting all potential host trees for signs of the beetle. In the meantime we would urge members of the public, local businesses and landowners to be on the alert for the beetle and let us know if they find anything.

Adult beetles are large (around 20 – 40 mm long), shiny black with variable white markings. Their antennae are particularly distinctive being much longer than their bodies (up to twice the body length) and are black with white/light blue bands. The larvae of the beetle feed undetected on the inside of the plant and can kill it or leave it weakened and susceptible to further pest and disease damage.

The most obvious symptoms of ALB damage are the circular adult exit holes which are around 10 mm in diameter and are generally found in the main trunk and branches. The adult beetles usually emerge from these holes between May and October.

John Morgan, Head of Plant Health at the Forestry Commission, stated, “Until we have completed the initial survey work to determine the extent of the outbreak it’s difficult to say exactly what measures will need to be taken. However, we will need to remove any trees found to be infested and it is possible that we will need to remove potential host trees around the original site as a precautionary measure. Eradication measures to treat outbreaks in the US and Italy have resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of mature trees.”

If anyone suspects they have seen an Asian longhorn beetle, or evidence of its presence please contact the Fera Plant Health Helpline 0844 2480071 or email planthealth.info@fera.gsi.gov.uk If possible, the beetle should be caught and placed in a secure container so that an Inspector can collect it. The beetles are not harmful to humans, though they should be handled with caution as they can nip the skin.”

More information can be found on the Fera website

It targets the control and eradication of the invasive plant Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).

For more information on the Balsam Bash go to: www.faw.ie/himalayan-balsalm-bash/

At sixteen places around the gardens you will see giant plant labels with the Be Plant Wise logos on top. The plants featured are garden plants that are known to invade habitats in Ireland. The labels feature pictures of the places they have invaded, along with a quick identification guide to the plants themselves. More information is available on the following website:  http://www.botanicgardens.ie/

Be Plant Wise trail map at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin

An example of one of the Be Plant Wise stops on display at the National Botanic Gardens

Plants featured

The trail features the following garden plants. Please note that the some of the identification features such as fruits, flowers or leaves may not be present at this time of the year on the plants. This highlights how we need to be able to identify invasive alien species at all stages of their growth.

It sets out three key messages in order to ‘Be Plant Wise’ and stop invasive aquatic plants from getting into the wild where they can cause significant problems. The key messages are:

1. Stop the spread

2. Compost with care

3. Know what you grow

You can access the Be Plant Wise campaign from http://invasivespeciesireland.com/what-can-i-do/be-plant-wise/

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD, launched the campaign in Ireland: http://invasivespeciesireland.com/what-can-i-do/be-plant-wise/about/ireland/

Environment Minister, Alex Attwood MLA, launched the campaign in Northern Ireland: http://invasivespeciesireland.com/what-can-i-do/be-plant-wise/about/press-release-ni/