The Way We Worm

Audubon Magazine has an excellent article about earthworms in their March issue. In it, the author discusses the impacts of non-native earthworms in North America, and gives tips on how to dispose of worms used as fishing bait or in compost.

Brief Break

The Invasive Species Weblog will not be updated for the next few days, while I am at the Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) conference. If you are craving more invasive species information, some recommended websites can be found here.

Tahrgets

The Cape Times has this story about animal rights activists interfering with current management protocols for Himalayan tahrs (Hemitragus jemlahicus) on Table Mountain in South Africa. The tahr, which resembles a shaggy goat, was accidentally introduced to the area 70 years ago. Now more than 100 of the animals roam the mountain, causing erosion and eating native plants. Friends of the Tahr have organized to demand that workers at Table Mountain National Park stop killing the animals, and have even sued to stop the culling. Park officials say that tahr numbers are too high, and it is too expensive to trap and relocate the animals, which have gotten very good at hiding from humans.

"Wisteria Hysteria"

According to this article from USA Today, Japanese and Chinese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda and W. sinensis) may be on their way to becoming the next kudzu. These beautiful ornamental vines are commonly planted to climb along roofs or arbors. Unfortunately, after a year of abundant rains, residents in Georgia and other parts of the southeastern U.S. are finding that the plants are growing out of control. Several plants have been found naturalizing along surface roads and freeways, and the species have turned out to be difficult to eradicate once plants are firmly established.

Hear No Weevil

Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service are working to develop an improved version of a device that detects sounds made by insects. According to this story in Agricultural Research Magazine, the new machine is lighter and more durable, making it more convenient to bring it out into the field. By touching the device's wand to a large nail driven into the root ball of a plant, scientists are hoping to use the listening device to detect root-feeding insects like the black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus).

Missed Opportunities

The Davis Enterprise is reporting that California officials have missed the boat with regard to the invasion of the New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum). Scientists say that though they reported the invasion of Putah Creek last year, not enough has been done about it, and now it's too late for any chance at eradicating the snails.

Oryx-ism

Turns out the introduction of the African antelope known as the oryx (Oryx beisa) to New Mexico may have had unintended consequences, according to this story from the Billings Gazette. The beasts were released on the White Sands Missile Range back in the 1960s as an option for hunters. Now analysis of blood samples show that some of the animals are carrying antibodies for three never-before seen viruses, and others tested positive for malignant catarrhal fever (.pdf), a disease that is deadly to deer and elk. Scientists have yet to determine whether the pathogens afflicting the oryxes can be transmitted to other organisms.