Forest Health

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a colorful non-native, invasive pest native to Asia that was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. In addition to Pennsylvania, it has been confirmed in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Virginia. In Maryland, Cecil and Harford Counties are under a quarantine. The first instar hatch was recorded in Cecil County in May 2020.

Read the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight" and "Invasives in Your Woodland," a new invasive insect you should know called Spotted Lanternfly, and the Brain Tickler challenge.

There's news about our new website, as part of the University of Maryland Extension's rebranding efforts. There's also information about the Spotted Lanternfly and about the rebounding forestry industry in Maryland. Our regular features include profiles of the striped skunk in the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight" and lesser celandine in "Invasives in Your Woodland," as well as our events calendar and the Brain Tickler challenge. Plus, tidbits you may have missed, in the News and Notes section.

The News and Notes roundup for this issue: Asks, "Should you squish a spotted lanternfly?"; notes that grants for forestry projects and protection are open in Anne Arundel County; describes how researchers are using drones and AI to map forests; reports on a new story map that documents saltwater intrusion in the Delmarva; and shares one way to stay warm this winter... with just one log. 

Woodlands are under increasing pressure from both native and invasive insects or diseases. Insect or disease management providers are listed here.

In this issue, read about the controversy surrounding glyphosate, as well as some good news for the Maryland forestry industry. Our regular features include the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight" and "Invasives in Your Woodland."

A novel non-native microbe is locally impacting beech tree health and mortality throughout the northeastern United States and southern Canada. The microbe, Litylenchus crenatae mccannii, a subspecies of a nematode found in Japan, is causing beech leaf disease (BLD).

Webinars on a variety of topics related to woodland health and wildlife in Maryland.

Since its debut as a regular Branching Out feature in 2016, "Invasives in Your Woodland" has profiled a wide variety of invasive plant species that threated the health of Maryland's ecosystems.

In the News and Notes roundup for this issue: Maryland's state forests are recognized as sustainable; a new program aims to help Virginians plant riparian buffers; a new theory hopes to explain "seed masting;" new research suggests wooden surfaces may have antivirial properties; and Maryland's Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund allocates $35 million for state ecological projects.