The Natural State is a great place to live. Rolling hills through much of the state. A State Park System rich with natural beauty and sites to enjoy the great outdoors. In addition, the weather for much of the year in Arkansas is great to be outdoors!
But keeping your property protected from pests is more than just keeping them outside of your home. Here are some of the invasive pests from the Arkansas Forestry department.
Asian Longhorned Beetles
Distinctive for their “longhorn” antennae, this insect is active from June to October and burrows into maples trees as well as alders, birches, elms, horsechestnut, poplars and Asian willows. Signs of an infestation are bark cracks, branch dieback, and tree mortality. They will also create oval to round pits in the bark to lay their eggs in.
Emerald Ash Borer
This insect is recognizable for a beautiful emerald colored body. They will bore into ash trees mostly. Recognize an infestation when the top 1/3 of tree begins to die off. Sprouts growing from roots and trunk and leaves often larger than normal as well as bark splitting with galleries under bark are signs of the Emerald Ash Borer.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
This pest can target a wide variety of hosts including tree fruit, small fruit, legumes and deciduous trees. Additional targets to watch out for are ornamentals. Adults are shield shaped, alternating dark and light bands of the antennae and the edges of the abdomen. Damage causes small necrotic regions on the fruit and foliage of many plants. Damage to the fruit can include water-soaked lesions, cat -facing, or prematurely aborted fruit.
There are additional invasive species that you can learn about in this pocket guide from the Forestry department. If you suspect an infestation on your property, you can contact the following agencies.
State Plant Board – (501) 225-1598
Arkansas Forestry Commission – (501) 296-1861
USDA-APHIS-PPQ – (501) 324-5258
