Parachuting Joro spider spotted in Maryland, spreading throughout East Coast [VIDEO]

BALTIMORE, MD—An invasive species of spider that’s spreading throughout the East Coast has been spotted in Maryland. Joro spiders are native to Japan and Asian countries  but have been spotted in states along the East Coast. Sightings of these critters have recently been confirmed in Maryland as well. The Joro spider first appeared in Georgia around 2013 and new research […]

Maryland pursuing actions to control invasive catfish after federal fisheries disaster declined

BALTIMORE, MD—Last month, the U.S. Department of Commerce notified Maryland Governor Wes Moore that it had declined Maryland’s request for a federal commercial fisheries disaster declaration that was sought to help address the economic and ecological damage caused by the spread of invasive catfish and snakeheads in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Maryland made the unique request in March as a […]

Governor Moore requests federal fishery disaster declaration for invasive blue catfish

ANNAPOLIS,​​ MD—Governor Wes Moore on Thursday called on the federal government to declare the expanding population of invasive fish species—including blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakehead—to be an ongoing commercial fishery disaster in the Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The governor sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo requesting the declaration under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery […]

Maryland Department of Agriculture expands spotted lanternfly quarantine zone

ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Department of Agriculture this week expanded its spotted lanternfly quarantine to include the following counties: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Washington and Wicomico, as well as Baltimore City. This quarantine is effective immediately, and restricts the movement of regulated articles that might contain the […]

Parachuting Joro spiders expected to spread throughout East Coast [VIDEO]

NOTTINGHAM, MD—An invasive species of spider that has spread throughout the Southeast in recent years may soon take aim at the entire East Coast, according to a new study. The Joro spider first appeared in Georgia around 2013 and new research from the University of Georgia suggests the invasive arachnids could spread through most of the Eastern Seaboard. Joros don’t […]

MDA adds Baltimore County to spotted lanternfly quarantine zone

ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Department of Agriculture on Friday expanded its spotted lanternfly quarantine to include the following counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, and Washington, as well as Baltimore City. This quarantine is effective immediately, and restricts the movement of regulated articles that might contain the spotted lanternfly in any of its life stages, including […]

Maryland Department of Agriculture confirms first spotted lanternfly hatch of 2020

UPDATE: The spotted lanternfly quarantine has now been expanded to include Baltimore County. Original story below… —— ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Department of Agriculture on Thursday confirmed the first spotted lanternfly hatch of 2020. The first instar nymph of the season was reported by a department employee while surveying for the pest in the upper northeast corner of Cecil County near […]