Extension outreach tools for invasive pests and diseases

Our nation’s natural resources and ecosystems are under constant pressures from encroaching invasive species. The development of Smartphone apps and field ID cards increases the possibility of early detection of new or invasive insects and diseases helping safeguard the environment and reducing the overall costs of successful management. Nationally, insects such as emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle are causing serious problems for the environment, Green Industry and private land owners. While precise economic impact is not known, estimates range in the tens of millions of dollars. Impacts include degradation of environmental quality, loss and quarantine of nursery crops, decreased property values, monitoring and eradication costs, and losses of recreational and aesthetic value. Smartphone apps allow users to compare photos and descriptions to field conditions while still in the field without any additional tools or equipment. They also allow sending of first reports and pictures along with precise GPS location for further confirmation by regulatory officials. Apps and ID cards are readily available to Extension, Regulatory and Green Industry professionals as well as lay citizens further increasing the possibility of early accurate detection. Field ID cards also allow users to compare photos and descriptions of target species leading to fewer false reports.