Keeping Eyes Peeled for Pests

Stuff We Love

Sept. 9, 2023

Let’s be clear—we don’t love pests. But we do love when the community rallies together to make sure destructive invasive species are kept in check. In August, the Michigan Invasive Species Program (MISP) updated their watch list to include two new species—one beetle and one plant. MISP calls the mountain pine beetle “the most aggressive, persistent and destructive bark beetle in the western U.S. and Canada,” and reports that our hot summers and mild winters have helped it migrate toward Michigan. White, red, and jack pine are all at risk from this bug. Meanwhile, the water-primrose may look bright and cheerful, but it grows wild in wetlands and on shorelines, choking out our native plants and making it difficult to enjoy time on the water. If you see either of these problematic species, head to michigan.gov/Invasives/ID-Report/Watchlist to learn how to remove and report them.