They're coming for us! How South Carolina is beating back invasive plants and insects

Retirees and warm-weather seekers aren’t the only ones clamoring to move to the state of South Carolina. The Palmetto State is also under extreme pressure from invasive insects and plants that could devastate its agriculture industry and forests. In fact, a recent global report estimates that invasive species cause countries $423 billion a year in damage to crops, water, forests, wildlife, and more.

In this episode of Earthly, Jonathan talks to Steven Long about South Carolina’s fight against invasives.
Long is assistant director of a state program that works with Clemson Cooperative Extension Agents, researchers and other state and federal agencies to battle insects, plants and plant diseases that are already here or are trying their best to get here.
He gives an update on some notorious invaders we’re currently battling, and others that we’re trying to keep out.
SHOW NOTES
Giant African Land Snail
Spotted Lanternfly
Box Tree Moth
Clemson Department of Plant Industry
South Carolina Invasives Reporting Tools

For show notes and additonal resources, visit https://blogs.clemson.edu/earthly/.
Earthly is hosted and produced by Clemson University.