Management of Invasive Forest and Landscape Insect Pests: Day 5 of Invasive Insect Certification Program for Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forest Pests

This six-day webinar series looks at the characteristics of invasive insects, the impacts and costs they have regionally and nationwide, and highlights the biology, ecology, and identification of some of the most destructive insects. This includes (but is not limited to) the Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, Lymantria dispar (formerly gypsy moth), hemlock woolly adelgid, winter moth, and more. State and federal regulations pertaining to invasive insect management will be discussed, as well as invasive forest and agricultural insects in Massachusetts along with warnings about potential newcomers. Management of invasive insects as a part of landscapes will be presented along with strategies to prevent human assisted movement of these organisms. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will be the focus, highlighting cultural and mechanical management options along with the use of biological control.

Participants may receive a certificate in INVASIVE INSECT MANAGEMENT upon the successful completion of all six webinars (must attend in each webinar in full and answer intermittent poll questions during each) and earn a passing score on associated online quizzes following each class. Participants not interested in a certificate may also attend all the webinars, or individually, without taking the associated quizzes. Attendees are encouraged to take all six sessions in one season to get the most out of the information. This certification series is only offered every other year - the next opportunity will be the fall of 2025.

Download printable agenda for the complete 2023 Invasive Insect Certification Program

AGENDA
Management of Invasive Forest and Landscape Insect Pests (DAY 5)

9:30 AM   Introductions and explanations of quizzes, certificates, and pesticide and association credits. 

9:45 AM   Biological Control of the Winter Moth and Emerald Ash Borer

Dr. Joseph Elkinton, University of Massachusetts 

A quick review of these important forest and landscape pests.  Dr. Elkinton will discuss the successes of managing winter moth in Massachusetts and New England with the release of Cyzenis albicans, a parasitic fly.  Dr. Elkinton will also discuss the ongoing biological control effort of the emerald ash borer, a highly destructive forest and urban tree pest.

10:45 AM  Break

11:00 AM  Biological Control of the Spotted Lanternfly: Updates

Hannah Broadley, USDA - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, PPQ Science and Technology  

The factors that go into making decisions about approving the release of exotic biological control agents will be discussed, as will the permitting and testing process prior to release of non-native biocontrol agents. Highlighting Forest Pest Methods Laboratory research and the biocontrol of SLF: key species involved and current and future research.

12:00 PM  Closing remarks, credit explanations, quiz reminders/instructions for the quiz assessments for those attending all 6-days of the training and seeking a certificate of completion, and instructions for pesticide CEU’s and association credits.