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Participation Opportunities
The Texas Invasive Species Institute (TISI) and The Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES) has many surveys and projects underway. These facilities strive to provide yearly invasive species presence and absence data to the authorities. Pre-screening is one of the first lines of defense in the war against invasives. However, sometimes it is hard to do it alone.
With the aid of the public and citizen scientist, we could cover a much wider area, and gather a more substantial amount of data. When it comes to protecting our environment, there is an opportunity for everyone! Together we can make a difference, one research project at a time.
We need your help to safeguard Texas Citrus, and it can start in your backyard!
The Texas Invasive Species Institute (TISI) is offering educational workshops focused on the Asian citrus psyllid and the pathogen Citrus Greening. This insect and disease complex is threatening citrus throughout Texas, and we need you help to monitor the spread! The workshop will highlight what you need to look out for, address USDA-APHIS Citrus Quarantines, and offer diagnostic services if you suspect your backyard citrus has either the psyllid pest or Citrus Greening pathogen. This includes providing trapping materials, assisting with management strategies, and more.
Please contact invasives@shsu.org to schedule a workshop (virtual or in-person) for you or your group this year!
Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES) is looking for farmers with corn, rice, or small grain (wheat, oats) fields who would like to participate in a Field Crop Pest Survey. By participating, you would be allowing a TRIES field biologist to come place a non-invasive USDA trap at the edge of your field and check it every few weeks. The traps will be monitored for a variety of invasive crop pests. Your participation would be beneficial to yourself as well as the local farmers throughout the county, and Texas crop trade. If you are interested in participating, please contact invasives@shsu.edu.
Counties covered by active surveys: Bell, Colorado, Ellis, Falls, Fayette, Hill, Limestone, McLennan, Milam, Navarro, Wharton, and Williamson.
Resources
Below you will find several recourses that can help you identify invasive pest crops. These materials are not just for farmers and citizen scientists. They are useful to anyone interested in learning more about the invasive pests that could be detrimental to local crops.
Wanted Corn Pest- poster (JPEG)
Wanted Small Grain Pest- poster (JPEG)
Are you eating my crops?
This is a 12-month series of articles written about 12 important invasive crop pests. The articles highlight evidence of an infestation, identifying features of the target pest, and where you can find more information about them.
Reminder: Pests chosen for this series have not yet been reported in Texas, but are on the ‘Watch List’ due to their high level of pest importance or risk due to host availability. If any of these pests were to become established in Texas, it could be catastrophic for the agricultural industry.
Articles 1 through 12 (all PDFs)
1: The silver Y moth (Autographa gamma)
2: The maritime garden snail (Cernuella virgata)
3: The cucurbit beetle (Diabrotica speciosa)
4: The sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps)
5: The old-world bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)
6: The black maize beetle (Heteronychus arator)
7: The small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus)
8: Rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae- Triticum pathogen)
9: Late wilt of corn (Magnaporthiopsis maydis)
10: The false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta)
11: Philippine dewy mildew (Peronosclerospora philippinensis)
12: The British root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne artiellia)
USDA APHIS Fact Sheets (all PDFs)
Black Maize Beetle
Curcurbit Beetle
False Codling Moth
Old World Bollworm
Silver Y Moth
Small Brown Planthopper
Sunn Pest
Late Wilt of Corn
Philippine Downy Mildew
Rice or Wheat Blast
Help the Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES) conduct an air potato survey by actively reporting any infestations seen in your area. The invasive air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) is a fast growing, high climbing vine. Potato-like tubers are the primary means of reproduction for this vine. They can be as small as a marble or as large as a softball. Native yams are often confused for air potatoes.
To avoid confusion please refer to the key below:
- Plants rhizomatous; bulbils never produced in leaf axils; petiole base never clasping the stem; Native D. villosa
- Plants tuberous; bulbils produced in leaf axils; petiole base sometimes clasping the stem; Invasive D. bulbifera
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For additional information, please refer to the TexasInvasives information page.
If you believe you have identified an air potato vine, please email invasives@shsu.edu and include the following: an image, an approximate number of vines present, the location (including whether it is on public or private land), and if bulbils are present (the potato-like tubers that emerge).
