Oregon Invasive Species Hotline in Action

In May of this year, an Oregon Forest Pest Detectors (OFPD) program graduate submitted a report to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline after finding D-shaped exit holes and a green insect on a twinberry in her yard in SE Portland. The OFPD program trains volunteers to monitor for and report potential infestations of invasive forest pests. The green insect was later identified as Agrilus cyanescens, an exotic beetle that has been established in the eastern U.S. since the 1920s, but had never before been detected in the Pacific Northwest. 

In early August, another OFPD graduate submitted a report to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline after she noticed similar damage to a twinberry in her yard in NE Portland. This was also later confirmed to also be Agrilus cyanescens. 

At this time, the Oregon Department of Agriculture does not believe Agrilus cyanescens will be an economic, ecological, or horticultural pest. However, if you do notice any signs or symptoms of Agrilus cyanescens (branch dieback, D-shaped exit holes, serpentine-shaped galleries beneath the bark, and metallic green beetles feeding on leaves in April-May), we encourage you to submit a report. 

Thank you to these two Oregon Forest Pest Detectors for being on the lookout and submitting a report to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline! 

This story was originally shared in the
OFPD Summer 2019 newsletter

OISC Celebrates 10 Years of Invasive Species Hotline

The Oregon Invasive Species Hotline has been around for 10 years now! Since its launch in 2008, there have been over 2000 reports submitted either online or by phone. The OISC would like to say THANK YOU to everyone that has reported invasive species sightings around the state -- you have contributed to vital early detection and rapid response efforts that aim to stop the spread of invasive species.

Percentage of All Reports by Species Category

In their efforts to detect new outbreaks, invasive species experts in Oregon face the daunting challenge of tracking hundreds of potential new invaders across millions of acres of farms, forests, and waterways. They can't do it alone. They need the help of all Oregonians to be their eyes in the field. To report invaders using the Oregon Invasive Species Online Hotline and search past reports, go here. To call in a sighting, call our Invasive Species Hotline: 1-866-INVADER (1-866-468-2337).

Visit our Report an Invader webpage to learn about other ways to report an invader!

Oregon Invasive Species Hotline Launches Redesigned Website

The Oregon Invasive Species Hotline, an online reporting and reviewing tool used by citizens and dozens of local and state agencies, has been relaunched with a new look and new functionality. Funding for the Hotline upgrade was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and contributions from members of the Oregon Forest Pest Detector Program and the interagency Oregon Invasive Species Council. The new website will make it even easier for citizens to report sightings and learn about the invasive species that threaten Oregon’s environment and economy.

Hotline visitors can easily search for existing reports by clicking icons on the map, or typing in more detailed searches into a search bar. Photos are now more prominent and easier to add to reports from a mobile phone. The site has been redesigned with smart phones in mind, and reports can be easily made or searched from your phone’s internet browser.

The Hotline was first launched in 2008 and has been an invaluable tool for citizens and managers, particularly for the management of new locations of priority species. The most effective ways to manage invasive species are to either prevent their spread or to quickly manage new sites, and the Hotline provides an easy way for Oregonians to get information about infestations to local managers. With the new redesign and mobile compatibility, the Hotline will be more effective than ever.

The Hotline continues to partner with the Oregon iMapInvasives program, incorporating reports from Oregonians into a statewide invasive species dataset that is further shared with local, state, and national agencies. Both the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline and the Oregon iMapInvasives program are housed at Portland State University and the hotline is managed in partnership with the Western Invasives Network and the Oregon Invasive Species Council.