Taxa Focus: Diseases & Pathogens

Anyone with invasive plants or insects in their garden knows how frustrating these pests can be. Anne Marie Pfaff, a Rapidan River Extension Master Gardener with plenty of experience fighting invasives, has this advice: Don’t give up.

Virginia Tech entomologists have partnered with Virginia Cooperative Extension to help track and prevent the spread of hybrid fire ants across the Commonwealth.

With colorful and interactive panels, an exhibit on the second floor of Newman Library titled “Invasive Species – A Global Dilemma” highlights the threat of invasive species to Virginia and surrounding regions.

Dr. Jim Westwood’s research of invasive interlopers, along with multiple long-time collaborators, has led to a $1 million National Science Foundation grant to study parasitic plants for a new method of plant genetic manipulation that could enhance food production.

Carrie Fearer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about forest health in the wake of natural disasters.

Working in the Southern Piedmont Entomology Laboratory, Parizad examines the roles of invasive aphids and alternative host plants in barley yellow dwarf virus transmission to understand better how environmental changes affect its spread.

Virginia Tech researchers received a grant to find if a native fungus could be used as a biocontrol method on the autumn olive.

Researchers are examining if a natural fungus that kills the tree-of-heaven could be spread to other trees-of-heaven by the spotted lanternfly.

As an embedded community ecologist and conservation biologist, Haldre Rogers has been researching the impact of the invasive brown tree snake on the limestone forests of Guam for 22 years.

J. Leighton Reid received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award to research the back-and-forth relationship between vegetation and animals in Ecuador.

A Virginia Tech team has introduced Bangladesh’s first biocontrol program to combat an invasive weed.

Dr. Jacob Barney joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about invasive species, their impact on native species, and the challenges of managing them. Barney also highlighted practical steps people can take to prevent their spread.