Beech leaf disease (BLD) community awareness meeting held in Brattleboro on October 10, 2025. State of Vermont plant and wildlife experts and local forestry specialists presented currently available information and best practices for mitigating the impacts of this forest disease, and answered questions from community members. Video recording made possible by Brattleboro Community TV.
You may have heard folks around Vermont using the term "introduced" species interchangeably with the conventional terminology of "invasive" species. This may be due to a conversation happening at many levels about the language and framing of ideas used in the field of invasion ecology. Because language has the power to shape public attitudes and behaviors, the Plant Health Team at Vermont's Agency of Agriculture is adopting more accurate, neutral, and respectful language to better reflect the complexities of species introductions and avoid reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
As gardening season gets underway, Vermonters are encouraged to inspect plants and outdoor items for signs of the spotted lanternfly, an agricultural pest not currently established in Vermont.
A new study led by a team of scientists from the Yale School of the Environment found differences at the cellular level of leaves from infected Beech trees — variations that may account for tree mortality.
Beech leaf disease (BLD), caused by the invasive nematode or roundworm Litylenchus crenatae mccannii, has been confirmed for the first time in Vermont.
Invasive Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana and all its cultivated varieties) has been in the news this year; states across the region have been listing this species as a noxious weed – a distinction that carries with it limitations and regulations on the sale and movement of these plants.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets is asking the public to keep an eye out for the invasive pest known as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) during the spring landscaping season.
Many Vermonters around the state are encountering spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar or LDD) caterpillars causing defoliation of their trees. This invasive insect arrived in the United States over 100 years ago and has been expanding its range ever since. Spongy moth can be a significant defoliator (leaf eater) of trees and shrubs, and although they prefer oak trees, high populations will cause them to eat many types of leaves, including maple and pine. Spongy moth caterpillars can create a nuisance for homeowners, from the sights of caterpillars climbing the sides of residences and falling frass to the sounds of chewing on leaves.
Several new detections of EAB in Vermont have expanded existing Infested Areas, including into two new counties. The new detections were found in the towns of Hartford (White River Junction), Brookfield, and Belvidere.
On January 14th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ended the Federal Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) quarantine to place more emphasis on management and biological controls to combat the pest. In Vermont, while we continue to find new areas of infestation, our forests support overwhelmingly healthy populations of ash to protect as long as possible. Bearing that in mind, we urge Vermonters to continue to follow the “Slow the Spread” recommendations.
