TN Dept. of Agriculture tracking invasive spotted lanternflies
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is keeping a close watch on the spotted lanternfly — a spotted black and red insect that could be mistaken for a butterfly depending on its stage of life.
Tennesseans asked to report sightings of invasive spotted lanternfly
'The early instar nymphs are more the size of, like, a tick,' entomologist Cindy Bilbrey said. 'As the adults come out, they're going to be more mobile.'
Researchers said the insect poses a threat to trees by sucking out nutrients. What the insects don't use comes out the other end in the form of a 'honey dew' that's conducive to black, sooty mold. Field crews have been out across the Volunteer State to prevent the insects from spreading.
'They're scraping egg masses. We have some backpack vacuums that we [use to] suck up the nymphal stage as well as the adults. We also do some chemical treatment with Bifenthrin,' Bilbrey told News 2. 'They don't bite. They don't sting. They're not a threat to humans.'
The first reported sighting was in Davidson County in Hermitage in 2023, then in Wilson County a few months later.
⏩
'A lot of folks don't send a picture. Without a picture, it's really hard for us to confirm or deny information that they're giving us,' said Bilbrey. 'They're not common across the state yet and we want to keep it that way.'
You can follow this link to report a sighting.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
Thinking of heading to Florida? Flesh-eating bacteria has been found in these counties
Tennesseans planning on squeezing in a last-minute vacation to Florida before the start of school should be aware of a rare "flesh-eating" bacteria. Florida health officials announced on July 11 that four people had died and at least seven others were made sick due to Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but deadly flesh-eating bacteria that seems to be plentiful in the warm climate in Florida. The deaths occurred in four different counties across the state. It is rare, with an average of 150 to 200 cases reported each year to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. And as hurricane season continues to bear down on Florida, the number of infections could pick up as seawater is brought to the shores. Here's what you need to know. Where is Vibrio vulnificus or the flesh-eating bacteria found? The bacteria is found in saltwater, brackish water and inside contaminated raw or undercooked seafood. It also lives naturally in coastal waters year-round. Vibrio vulnificus requires saltwater to live and spread, though it can thrive in brackish water. For the most part, the bacterial infections usually occur in Gulf Coast states, but in recent years, reports of Vibrio vulnificus have started to be seen further North as climate change fuels warmer oceans. Where case of flesh-eating bacteria have been found in Florida: In Florida, confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus were found in 10 counties, including four in the Panhandle — a frequent vacation destination for Nashville residents. They are: Bay County: 1 Broward County: 1 Duval County: 1 Escambia County: 1 Hillsborough County: 1 Lee County: 1 Manatee County: 1 St. Johns County: 2 Santa Rosa County: 1 Walton County: 1 How can a person become infected with a flesh-eating bacterium? Infection can occur when people swallow contaminated water or if it gets into an open wound. People can also become infected due to contaminated raw or undercooked seafood, especially shellfish such as oysters. Why is Vibrio vulnificus called a flesh-eating bacteria? Healthy individuals usually experience only mild symptoms, but it can start eating away at flesh if it gets into an open wound and can cause necrotizing fasciitis. This causes the flesh around the wound to die. Some cases of exposure can turn deadly if this happens or it enters the bloodstream. "Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal about 50 percent of the time," according to the Florida Department of Health. According to the CDC, about one in five people die from the infection, sometimes within one to two days of becoming ill. Others could require surgery or even amputation after exposure. What are the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus? People who are exposed to it could experience diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, according to the CDC. If an open wound is exposed to Vibrio vulnificus, it can cause discoloration, swelling, skin breakdown and ulcers. How do I avoid exposure to flesh-eating bacteria? Here's what the CDC and Florida Department of Health recommend: Stay out of saltwater and brackish water if you have an open wound or cut. If you get a cut while you are in the water, leave the water immediately. If your open wounds and cuts could come in contact with salt water, brackish water or raw or undercooked seafood, cover them with a waterproof bandage. Cook shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) thoroughly. Avoid cross-contamination of cooked seafood and other foods with raw seafood and juices from raw seafood. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish. Seek medical attention right away for infected wounds. Contributing: USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Florida has a rare flesh-eating bacteria. Which counties to avoid Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Summer interns clean up West Nashville creek, learn about ecosystem
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Summer break means no school and maybe even a vacation, but for some high schoolers across Middle Tennessee, they are spending their summer participating in a research internship called SHIRE. Thursday morning, the interns were at Richland Creek, learning about the relationship we have with bodies of water, and how they impact our drinking water. The students, along with internship leaders, went through the creek, picking out trash all morning. They found a lot of different trash, from plastic bags to PVC pipes. This is just one of the educational experiences they've had so far this summer. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More The SHIRE internship program is a partnership with Vanderbilt University. One of the interns, Hannah Nguyen, says she is hopeful her experience this summer will help shape her future. 'I think I hope to volunteer with things like this all the time, for the rest of my life, maybe just lifelong learning. With my research in particular, I just want to take the community aspect to it. Also, for my own interest, how experimental learning can be so beneficial.' Another cool aspect of this program is that each intern gets to propose their own research project that will also be carried out throughout the school year. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Algae identified that gave a local shrimper trouble
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Rocky Magwood, a fourth-generation shrimper on Shem Creek, faced a new challenge on the opening day of shrimp season: a mysterious sea grass. Biologists have since identified it. Shrimp trawling season began June 2 in the Lowcountry, and Magwood told News 2 that he could only drag his shrimp nets for ten minutes before they were clogged with this sea grass, leaving him to catch only 15 shrimp that day. Biologists with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) got samples of the grass and identified it as a type of red algae, likely belonging to the genus Polysiphonia. Typically, this kind of algae is seen further north and offshore on rocky seafloors, according to biologists at SCDNR. They also suspect that recent storms may have dislodged large quantities of the algae and pushed it into South Carolina coastal waters. According to the biologists, this type of algae is not harmful, but is more of a nuisance, as local shrimpers expressed. The good news: this kind of algae is not here to stay. Ocean currents should disperse it. This type of red algae has not completely vanished from Lowcountry waters. 'We are experiencing it in certain places, but it has lightened up a lot. You can work around Charleston now, it's in the channel now, and in front of the inlets, it's not as thick as it was,' said Magwood. According to Magwood, this is a win because shrimpers are now able to return to the waters that they normally work in. Magwood expressed, 'We are back in our areas around home now.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
