Invasive plant: one which spreads aggressively, grows rapidly,  and displaces other native plants
– A species that is non-native to the ecosystem
– Causes or is likely to cause ecologic or economic  harm to plant communities (diversity, abundance, structure), wildlife habitat, nutrient cycling and other ecosystem function
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Invasive Plant Characteristics make them more competitive than natives.
• Wide site tolerances (shade, moisture, soils)
• Leaf out earlier in spring and shed later in fall
• Few, if any, native controls: insects, disease, herbivores, and other plants.
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Key problem invasive plants in McKean County:
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarian, Lonicera morrowii)
Glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)
Goat's rue (Galega Officinalis)
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii )

Visit PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources website for plant fact sheets with control information.
PA DCNR Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania​
PA Invasive Species Council News

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 Lymantria dispar (formerly  known as Gypsy Moth)  is a serious forest pest and is responsible for killing millions of oak and other species of trees across the state. Click here for more information on Lymantria Dispar.
​Guide to Lymantria Dispar Egg Mass Surveying 
DCNR planned 2022 Lymantria Dispar spray maps.

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APIPMA: Allegheny Plateau Invasive Plant Management Area
The McKean County Conservation District is part of a five county cooperative group working to address invasive plant problems across a larger landscape. APIPMA provides educational outreach, trains volunteers, identifies and maps plant infestations, and works to achieve control to protect ecosystems.

​Japanese Knotweed (below) is one of five priority invasive plant species for APIPMA

Spotted Lanternfly​
The Spotted Lanternfly or SLF, Lycorma delicatula (White), is an invasive planthopper native to Asia fist discovered in PA in Berks County in 2014.
SLF feeds on sap from a myriad of plants but has a strong preference for plants important to PA's economy including grapevines, maples, black walnut, birch and willow. SLF's feeding damage stresses plants which can decrease their heal and in some cases cause death.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding has announced there are now 45 counties in Pennsylvania’s quarantine zone  Known lanternfly infestations are not widespread in the newly quarantined counties, but in scattered municipalities shown on the department’s detailed online map.

​For more information on spotted lanternflies, visit the Department of Agriculture website.  

Visit Penn State SLF  for more information on Reporting, Identification and Management 

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