Changing Seasons Means Watch for Invasive Species

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - We are headed into a new season, which means a change in our temperatures. But what could this mean for those in agriculture?

Temperatures are not the only thing we have to worry about. Pests and invasive species because more of a concern as we see a swing in temperatures, especially if we see several days of warm weather, followed by several days of cold weather. “That abnormal volatility can be dangerous for a lot of plant based agriculture because of insect pests” Ben Lehan from the Laramie County Community College states.

These invasive species can be very damaging to those with crops and plants, but can throw off the ecosystem of Wyoming and other nearby states.

According to the National Weather Service Meteorologist Taylor Wittmann, we are seeing “very normal temperatures and precipitation amounts for this time of year”.

Lehan suggests that if you do end up spotting an unusual species or a species you are unsure of, “capture it in a jar and freeze for 30 minutes” as this allows for the species to become “euthanized” and to call an expert so they can see what species it is.

There are two ways to report any unusual or any invasive species. One way is to reach out to the University of Wyoming Extension hotline for the home county you line in. Information for that can be found at https://www.uwyo.edu/uwe/county-offices.html.

Another way is to contact the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. Their main phone number is 307-777-7321. You can also call the Pesticide Enforcement Officer, Erin Christiansen, at 307-777-6959, from WDA.

Ben Lehan was a researcher for invasive species for California University.