First Detector workshops share key insights on invasive species in Illinois

More than 40 horticulture industry professionals and experienced gardeners learned about critical pest issues during the 2015 Illinois First Detector Workshop in Wheaton.

Each year, the Illinois First Detector Program presents key information on invasive pests, diseases and plants through workshops in eight locations across Illinois, including the Feb. 3 event at Cantigny Gardens.

The program drew a mix of arborists, municipal and county forest preserve employees, nursery and landscape professionals, and volunteers, including those with the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs.

"The First Detector program shares information on new and emerging problems for Illinois," said Diane Plewa, plant diagnostic outreach specialist with the University of Illinois Plant Clinic. "We hope that participants will use that knowledge to help identify these issues in their local area and share that information back with us."

Invasive species negatively impact native plant species and wildlife by taking over land and valuable resources. They may have been brought to the area accidentally or intentionally. The First Detector Program aims to increase awareness and education of emerging issues in order to manage these species before widespread outbreaks, Plewa said.

The 2015 program highlighted emerging issues in three areas, teaching participants how to:

• Identify and manage six troublesome invasive plant species common in yards, including burning bush, Japanese barberry, callery pear, Japanese stiltgrass, Japanese chaff flower and giant hogweed, presented by Chris Evans of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

• Recognize and address growing ornamental plant viral diseases, including rose rosette virus and plum pox virus, presented by Plewa.

• Properly identify and report the brown marmorated stink bug and viburnum leaf beetle, presented by Kelly Estes of the Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program.

The group also discussed invasive pest pathways with Scott Schirmer of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. All presenters led hands-on activity stations so participants could examine and understand these pests and diseases in more detail.

The Illinois First Detector Workshops, now in their third year, are aimed at improving first detector training and invasive species awareness. Angie Moreland, a landscape designer with Garden Faire in Oswego, has attended all three of First Detector workshops.

"This program helps me stay on top of new problems that may impact landscape design," said Moreland, who also is a Master Gardener in Kendall County. "For example, brown marmorated stink bug is an up-and-coming pest in all our gardens. We learned to identify the pest, and how to identify its look-alikes."

This is important because look-alike pests may not be harmful or may not cause enough harm to be tracked or controlled, she explained.

The brown marmorated stink bug was first reported in Illinois in 2009, and was found in DuPage County in 2012. Last year, several reports of severe defoliation came from both of those counties.

"Community involvement and early detection and response are key to managing invasive pests," said University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel, who serves DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties. "Many of our Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists attend the training. If through our Help Desk program in each county we can help a community members identify and manage these invasive pests, that's a success."

The Master Gardener Help Desks in DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties will reopen this spring. For hours and contact information, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/hort.html.

For information on University of Illinois Extension in your county, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/. University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems.