On June 2, 2008, the TIPPC became formally established in the State of Texas. Way to go Texas! For more information see here.

The National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) has developed an educational program for crop consultants, county extension educators, and for those who monitor the health of crops.  These programs provide training for "First Detectors" - people who are trained to have a heightened awareness to the potential for exotic pests or diseases.  Their training sessions and online training modules provide a good resource for people interested in acting as First Detectors.  You can find more information about the program at the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory or can jump directly to the NPDN Training Site for First Detectors. 

We are constantly looking for images to illustrate species of regulatory concern.  There are a few Federal Noxious Weeds that we have had a hard time finding images for.  There are also a number of species that we would like more images of.  If you have any images of the species listed below that you would like to share, please contact Joe LaForest.

ye gu (Aeginetia indica)
yerba de hierro (Alectra fluminensis)
onionweed (Asphodelus fistulosus)
animated oat (Avena sterilis)
golden false beardgrass (Chrysopogon aciculatus)
bigfruit dodder (Cuscuta megalocarpa)
globe dodder (Cuscuta potosina globifera)
globe dodder (Cuscuta potosina)
African couchgrass (Digitaria abyssinica)
velvet fingergrass (Digitaria velutina)
three-cornered jack (Emex australis)
devil's thorn (Emex spinosa)
Brazilian satintail (Imperata brasiliensis)
murainagrass (Ischaemum rugosum)
Asian marshweed (Limnophila sessiliflora)
serrated tussock grass (Nassella trichotoma)
broomrape (Orobanche ramosa)
kodomillet (Paspalum scrobiculatum)
kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum)
African feathergrass (Pennisetum macrourum)
Kyasuma grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum unispiculum)
mission grass (Pennisetum polystachion setosum)
alapataco (Prosopis alpataco)
algarobilla (Prosopis argentina)
mesquite (Prosopis burkartii)
calden (Prosopis caldenia)
cusqui (Prosopis calingastana)
algarrobillo (Prosopis campestris)
mesquite (Prosopis castellanosii)
algarrobo patagonica (Prosopis denudans)
algarrobillo (Prosopis elata)
churqui (Prosopis ferox)
mesquite (Prosopis fiebrigii)
algarrobo paraguayo (Prosopis hassleri)
algarrobilla (Prosopis humilis)
barbe de tigre (Prosopis kuntzei)
palo de hierro (Prosopis palmeri)
tornillo (Prosopis reptans cinerascens)
mesquite (Prosopis rojasiana)
vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia)
albardon (Prosopis sericantha)
Argentine screwbean (Prosopis strombulifera)
lata (Prosopis torquata)
velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina)
shrubby blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)
wild blackberry (Rubus moluccanus)
wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum)
lobed salvinia (Salvinia biloba)
Herzog salvinia (Salvinia herzogii)
South African ragwort (Senecio inaequidens)
Madagascar ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis)
simplestem bur-reed (Sparganium erectum stoloniferum)
exotic bur-reed (Sparganium erectum)
denseflower witchweed (Striga densiflora)
cowpea witchweed (Striga gesnerioides)
purple witchweed (Striga hermonthica)
coatbuttons (Tridax procumbens)

Registration is now open for the Natural Areas Conference 2008. For more information click here.

The National Plant Diagnostic Network Training and Education Committee will be creating presentation materials that may be used to educate First Detectors such as master gardeners, garden clubs and homeowners about certain pests. Many of these species are exotic or newly introduced.

To help this effort, we are putting out a call for images on the following weed species.

• Asiatic Sand Sedge (Carex kobomugi)
• Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
• Black Swallowwort (Cynanchum nigrum)
• Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa)
• Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
• Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
• Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
• Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
• Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
• Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
• Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
• Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
• Japanese Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum)
• Kudzu (Pueraria montana)
• Mile-a-minute (Polygonium perfoliatum)
• Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
• Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
• Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
• Tamarisk (Salt Cedar) (Tamarix ramosissima)
• Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
• Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)
• Winged euonymus (Euonymus alatus)

If you have some images of these species that you think would be useful, please let me know. We'll add the images to the Bugwood Image Database and forward copies to the individuals working on particular species presentations.

As many of you are aware, we have launched the BugwoodWiki; A wiki that has direct access to the Bugwood Image Archives.  Authorship for the wiki is restricted to "BugwoodWiki Scholars"; individuals who have asked to be authors and have some credentials or experience to back up their articles.  We also require the authors to put their name on their articles so that they can be properly credited if the article is used elsewhere.  All of the articles may be used in non-profit, educational publications as long as all of the citations are maintained.

One of the barriers to using any "wiki" is learning the "wiki language".  Although it is a very easy format to write in, the concept of learning a new language and flashbacks of past experiences with HTML is often a deterrent.  To help ease this dread, the Bugwood Network is offering online training sessions.  The first of these training sessions is a basic lesson to get people started.  It will provide people with a basic set of skills to use while editing any MediaWiki system (BugwoodWiki, eXtension, Wikipedia, etc.).

If you are interested in attending a session or just becoming a BugwoodWiki Scholar, contact our webmaster.

I applaud the efforts of Iowa City and Johnson County. What an inventive (and fun) way to try and control a nasty invasive! See below...

Last May, the City of Iowa City and Johnson County thought of a new way to fight the Plant from Hell (AKA Garlic Mustard): A garlic mustard challenge was organized and groups of volunteers, young and old, attacked predetermined sites with a vengeance. Almost a ton of GM was pulled.

The event is being organized again this year, with a new twist: other cities or locations are being challenged to BEAT THE JOHNSON COUNTY RECORD!  It's a competition, a challenge, to see who can pull the most.

People throughout the state are invited to organize crews and join in. This is a win-win event: you decrease GM and at the same time educate others about the nasty plant and how it should be fought.

Please see the attached Press Release, and the Sample Challenge Letter inserted below. Do consider joining in and thanks, Connie Mutel

Dear _____,
 
In the spring of 2007, Iowa City and Johnson County area residents rallied together to establish a record for the Most Garlic Mustard Plants Ever Pulled. The event was sponsored by Iowa City's Neighborhood Services, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works Departments, with support from many Johnson County environmental organizations such as Friends of Hickory Hill Park, Johnson County Heritage Trust, Johnson County Conservation Board, Project Green, Environmental Advocates, and the Backyard Abundance Campaign. The goal was not only to control the spread of these noxious weeds but also to expand public awareness about the problem.  As you know, garlic mustard is a non-native plant species that has no local natural controls, partially because none of Iowa's native insects or wildlife rely on it as a food source. The plant has spread at an alarming rate the past two decades, and is now degrading local woodlands by crowding out native plants such as wildflowers, ferns, and tree seedlings, which in turn reduces the food supply for woodland animals. To control the spread, the weeds must be pulled or cut between March and June, before they go to seed and repopulate.

Last May, Johnson Country residents pulled a total of 1,900 pounds (almost a ton) of invasive garlic mustard plants from the Johnson County area. We concentrated on public areas such as City and County parks, but also encouraged private property owners to permit pulling on their property. We hope to build on that success this year!

The City of Iowa City would like to extend a challenge to _______ in hopes of stimulating growth of the program and continuing regional efforts to eradicate this noxious weed. The second annual Johnson County/Iowa City Great Garlic Mustard Challenge is scheduled for April 19th and 26th. We hope to beat last year's record and encourage other communities to participate! We will be weighing the garlic mustard pulled at our April events and will also include any garlic mustard plants pulled throughout the month of April. We also encourage our challengers to make the weed pulling a month-long event.

If you think your community might be interested in such a challenge, we would be happy to share any of our promotional materials, brochures, experiences,
etc. to assist you in the process. We learned a lot last year and intend to make this year's project even better!

Thank you for considering participation in this exciting event. If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Marcia Klingaman with Neighborhood Services at 319/356-5237 or e-mail marcia-klingaman@ iowa-city. org.

Sincerely, 
The Great Garlic Mustard Challenge Planning Committee
 

We just received a large set of images from Ohio State University. These images cover a wide variety of weed species found in the mid-west. There are over 3000 pictures in this collection, while not all of these images are currently available, they will be in the weeks to come. These images are available at The Ohio State Weed Lab archive. 

The new bugwood publication "Invasive Plant Responses to Silvicultural Practices in the South" is now available online at: http://www.invasive.org/silvicsforinvasives.pdf

A large infestation of cogongrass was recently found in the Francis Marion National Forest in Charleston County, South Carolina. To learn more about this infestation and about South Carolina's eradication program see: http://www.cofc.edu/~everettj/cogongrass.html