What a great week at #NAISMA2026! 🎉From engaging sessions and posters to new connections and meaningful conversations, this conference was a wonderful reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together across institutions, disciplines, & organizations to address #invasivespecies 💪

Should we panic about the New World screwworm? GCC affiliate Dr. Luis Escobar joined the Curious Conversations podcast to talk about the New World screwworm, a fly whose larvae can infest living animals and humans, causing severe wounds. Listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvH1...

S4 E5: Should we panic about the flesh-eating New World screwworm?

Luis E. Escobar joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the New World screwworm, a fly whose larvae can infest living animals and humans, causing severe wounds. He shared the…

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The ISC had a fantastic time at Hokie BugFest! We loved connecting with the community and seeing our Affiliates and Partners showcase their lab and field work on invasive and native species 🐜🌿 Until next time, Hokie BugFest!

Hokie BugFest 2026 will have a special focus on #invasive species, including the spotted lanternfly, emerald ash borer, spongy moth, and hemlock woolly adelgid 🪲🦟🦗🐜 Dr. Stacy Endriss with the ISC stopped by the WFXR studio to share more about the event! www.wfxrtv.com/video/celebr...

Explore the fascinating world of insects through hands-on activities, live exhibits, and opportunities to meet the experts who study them. Hokie #BugFest is happening at the Squires Student Center on October 10th from 10am-3pm. This is a free event for all ages! 🔗 shorturl.at/JEaNO

October is Firewood Month! ⛺ Moving firewood long distances can spread #invasive forest pests hidden in or on the wood. Your firewood choices matter, and you can help slow the spread of these tree-killing pests. Learn more at: www.dontmovefirewood.org/firewood-mon...

A new study by Dr. Chloé Lahondère and her team explores mosquito communities across four Virginia landscapes, revealing how much mosquito communities can vary. They collected 34 species, including several medically important, #invasive, and range-expanding species. academic.oup.com/jme/article/...

Mosquito diversity, range-expanding species, and host-feeding patterns across Virginia’s heterogeneous landscapes

Abstract. Understanding how mosquito community, host use, and environmental drivers vary across landscapes is critical for predicting vector‑borne disease

academic.oup.com

A new Southwest Virginia #PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) is bringing communities together to share knowledge, coordinate invasive species management, and work toward landscape-scale solutions 🌱🤝 forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/newsletter/a...

Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) in Virginia

forestupdate.frec.vt.edu

Congratulations to GCC affiliates Dr. Leigh-Anne Krometis and Dr. J. Leighton Reid, recipients of the 2025-26 CALS Research Excellence Awards. Krometis was honored for applied research and Reid for basic research. More: globalchange.vt.edu/news/news-st...

GCC Faculty Honored with CALS Research Awards

GCC affiliates Leigh Anne Krometis and Leighton Reid earned the 2026 CALS Research Excellence Awards for outstanding achievements in basic and applied research.

globalchange.vt.edu

The pests that surged across the United States in the 1990s weren’t brought back by international travelers. Their DNA shows they were here all along. Congrats to Dr. Warren Booth, Dr. Lindsay Miles, and the team on this cool research! news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Genetic study busts a decades-old myth about the U.S. bed bug comeback

Booth led the international team that looked into the genetic lineages of U.S., Canadian, and European bed bugs 10 years into their 1990s resurgence. Their study of 971 bed bugs in 109 populations aro...

news.vt.edu

This summer, an interdisciplinary graduate student team used support from the ICAT Roger and Debbie Weat Student Grant to transform Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven), a damaging invasive species in Southwest Virginia, into ecologically safe, handmade art paper 📜🌱

#VirginiaTech and ISC Affiliates are recipients of the USDA's New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge! 🎉 Learn more about the Grand Challenge here: www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/anim...

Come work at #VirginiaTech! The Department of Fish & Wildlife Conservation invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor of Wildlife Extension. And yes, #invasivespecies are part of the job description! 🐗🐟 Learn more 🔗 shorturl.at/h7wDE Review date 📅 10/15/2026

The ISC is excited to celebrate an incredible milestone: our 100th Affiliate! 🥳 Our Affiliate community brings together faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and staff from across Virginia Tech, representing all six colleges & 18 different academic units. Learn more! shorturl.at/Y2tfu ✨

The ISC enjoyed presenting to graduate students and faculty at the weekly Fish and Wildlife Noon Seminar (FAWNS). A big thank you to Dr. Robert Cooper for the invitation! 🐟🐗 #CNRE #VirginiaTech #InvasiveSpecies

The ISC recently hosted a Lunch & Learn with our inaugural Mentoring Program cohort! Attendees enjoyed lunch & had the opportunity to network with their small peer mentoring groups before transitioning into a panel discussion on building meaningful partnerships 🤓

Great news! Thanks to a coordinated statewide effort, about one-third of documented invasive phragmites in #Minnesota are no longer detectable. With continued reporting, treatment, and community support, we can keep phragmites from taking over MN wetlands @startribune.com z.umn.edu/phragmites-s...

This invasive reed is spreading. Minnesota still has a chance to stop it.

A statewide effort is targeting invasive phragmites while infestations remain small enough to eliminate, giving Minnesota an opportunity few states still have.

startribune.com

Should you still squash spotted lanternflies? Check out this article from #NatGeo featuring ISC Affiliate Sally Dickinson, PhD! 🐶🍇 shorturl.at/69wyQ

Should You Still Squash Spotted Lanternflies? Here’s What to Know

Scientists and lawmakers alike are looking for ways to combat these invasive insects. But do they still present the same environmental harm as we originally thought?

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New research examines how #stinkbugs are distributed in soybean fields across Virginia and North Carolina 🐛🌱 The findings offer insights into more efficient scouting and sampling strategies for soybean producers and crop consultants. 🔎 Read the full study: academic.oup.com/jee/advance-...

Stink bug spatial distribution and sampling optimization in North Carolina and Virginia soybeans

Abstract. Aggregated pest populations in crop fields pose a significant challenge for efficient detection and economic threshold decisions. Stink bugs are

academic.oup.com

The 2026 North American Invasive Species Management Association Annual Conference will be held on the East Coast this year in Alexandria, Virginia, and the ISC is co-hosting! 🤓✨ Agenda - shorturl.at/j34eB Register - shorturl.at/GG0lw

Researchers developed a method to track and predict pollen movement through the environment, with potential applications for understanding pollen dispersal in #invasive plants. Congratulations to Dr. David Schmale and team! 🌾 news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Research seeks better understanding of pollen movement from ground to sky

In a new study, researchers established an accurate methodology for tracking, measuring, and forecasting pollen dispersal of genetically engineered switchgrass at both the ground and atmospheric level...

news.vt.edu

The ISC is thrilled to welcome Dr. Man Li to #VirginiaTech! ✨ Dr. Li has joined the Dept. of Agricultural & Applied Economics as an Associate Professor through the Invasive Species Collaborative’s ongoing cluster hire. You can learn more about Dr. Li’s background here ➡️ aaec.vt.edu/news/article...

Man Li Joins Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and Invasive Species Collaborative at Virginia Tech

aaec.vt.edu

ISC Affiliate Dr. Hannes De Deurwaerder contributed an article to the Virginia Forestry Association’s magazine, #VirginiaForests! In the article, he discusses what lianas and vines are, their importance in forested ecosystems, and how to document champion lianas. 🍃🏆 🔗 shorturl.at/BgQdo

ISC Affiliates recently traveled to Guam for the kickoff meeting of a new SERDP-funded research project. The project aims to develop a multi-species management framework to suppress #invasive brown tree snake populations while supporting endangered species (incl. Guam rail & Mariana fruit bat) 🐍🦇

The ISC was well represented at the 2026 Ecological Society of America Conference! ✨ ☑️ Dr. Haldre Rogers received the Commitment to Human Diversity in Ecology Award ☑️ Dr. Claudia Nuñez-Penichet & Dr. João Vitor Messeder both presented on original #invasivespecies research

The ISC participated in a special session at #PlantHealth2026 that focused on forest health. The session demonstrated how cross-disciplinary groups strengthen our ability to detect, respond to, & manage forest health challenges through shared expertise and coordinated research 🌳🌲

From invasive ants and termites to mosquitoes and other urban pests, new findings highlight how human activity can create pathways for species movement, adaptation, and persistence 🌎 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

There's good news in the fight against invasive species! Thanks to a coordinated statewide effort, about one-third of Minnesota's documented invasive phragmites populations are no longer detectable. Read more from MAISRC researchers: www.startribune.com/this-invasiv... #invasivespecies

This invasive reed is spreading. Minnesota still has a chance to stop it.

A statewide effort is targeting invasive phragmites while infestations remain small enough to eliminate, giving Minnesota an opportunity few states still have.

startribune.com

The ISC's quarterly newsletter is out! Each edition shares important announcements, opportunities, events, and the latest research from #VirginiaTech. Summer newsletter ➡️ mailchi.mp/f46d83f33043...

How can scientists build trust with the public? A new study from Virginia Tech suggests that credibility isn't just about expertise - it's also about whether people believe scientists are motivated by the public good. news.vt.edu/articles/202...

Scientists’ credibility depends on audience and perceived motives

A new study identifies five audience "classes" based on people's perceptions of scientists’ credibility.

news.vt.edu