What bugs/diseases/critters have ya'll seen that weren't around 30-40 years ago?

[paulsharvey]

I did just watch a YouTube short about North American invasives in the rest of the world; prickly pear in Australia; raccoons in Germany/Japan; NA gray squirrels in Europe, large mouth bass in Japan, ect.

 

[Jstpssng]

Asiatic(oriental) bittersweet. It’s taking over NH. It’s a nasty vine that spreads everywhere and anywhere, with connected underground roots, and overgrows everything, including strangling and killing large trees
First noticed it a few years ago.
It’s about impossible to eradicate, at this point. Lots of people don’t even know they should kill it, and they let it grow, and go to seed.
The population explosion just started a few years ago

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Until recently landscapers could still sell it in Maine.
After my father passed away in 2017 I started walking the property, and counted 6 invasives.
-Bittersweet
-Autumn Olive
-Multiflora rose
-Japanese knotweed
-Norway Maple
-Japanese Barberry

Also Black locust, which some consider invasive.

Many of these were planted for decades for the very reason they are considered invasive now.

 

[paulsharvey]

Until recently landscapers could still sell it in Maine.
After my father passed away in 2017 I started walking the property, and counted 6 invasives.
-Bittersweet
-Autumn Olive
-Multiflora rose
-Japanese knotweed
-Norway Maple
-Japanese Barberry

Also Black locust, which some consider invasive.

Many of these were planted for decades for the very reason they are considered invasive now.

Not all "non-native" are considered invasive. If we did have non natives, we would starve...

Almost all fruit trees, wheat, barley, sweet potatoes, peanuts... Even potatoes aren't native to North america. Add to that, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, chickens.

 

[Hay Dude]

Weirdos with blue hair, nose rings and 100+ tattoos.
Never saw those critters 30-40 years ago.
At least not in MY area.

 

[Jstpssng]

Not all "non-native" are considered invasive. If we did have non natives, we would starve...

Almost all fruit trees, wheat, barley, sweet potatoes, peanuts... Even potatoes aren't native to North america. Add to that, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, chickens.

I realize that.

Invasive species has a specific definition: A non-native species that causes harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health

Everything I mentioned is on our state's "invasive" list... many are illegal to import or sell.

 

[paulsharvey]

I realize that.

Everything I mentioned is on our state's "invasive" list... many are illegal to import or sell.

I only point that out, because "autumn olive", which i think is also known as Russian olive, isn't listed as invasive in many parts of the US. It has its downsides, but also is a good fruit and habitat for many native species. Im sure there are similar species, that might be invasive in say, Arkansas, but just a non-native in Pennsylvania

 

[WinterDeere]

Not all "non-native" are considered invasive.

Homosapien, in North America?

(I know it's not one word, but when I try to spell it correctly, the forum censors it to **** sapien. )

 

[Jstpssng]

I only point that out, because "autumn olive", which i think is also known as Russian olive, isn't listed as invasive in many parts of the US. It has its downsides, but also is a good fruit and habitat for many native species. Im sure there are similar species, that might be invasive in say, Arkansas, but just a non-native in Pennsylvania

Gotcha. All that I know is that I spent 2 weekends cutting and stump treating it before I gave up.

 

[paulsharvey]

Gotcha. All that I know is that I spent 2 weekends cutting and stump treating it before I gave up.

Can invasive species be beneficial for wildlife?

A Question of the Week

extension.unh.edu

University of New Hampshire, kinda a mixed bag; some benefits, some down sides, as honestly all things.

 

[paulsharvey]

Another, separate but related topic is bring back species that have been gone from a system for extended periods; wolves, Panthers, heck, white tail deer in some areas, bison, ect

Then beyond that, bring back extinct species...

Also, "non natives" that have been in an ecosystem for 250-5000 years, think horses/burros, hogs, camels, axis deer, dingos. At what point do you say, "the ecosystem of 1525 is not the ecosystem of 2025, and removing hogs (or burros/mustangs/whatever) damages what is Now an established ecosystem

It's all complex.