Giant Hogweed, scientific name Heracleum mantegazzanium

Giant Hogweed is a plant that can grow from seven to 14 feet tall – or more. It has clusters of white flowers on the top and the stems are green with purple splotches and white hairs. It spread from central Asia to Europe to America as a decorative plant.
Infestations have been found in Islip and Muttontown Preserve.

If you see Giant Hogweed, do not touch it. It has toxic sap that will cause blisters and scarring. The sap prevents skin from protecting against sunlight and makes it more vulnerable to sunburn, especially in the presence of sweat. This process is called Phytophotodermatitis.

A similar invasive species, wild parsnip, also has this effect but it is not as extreme.

If someone touches the Giant Hogweed sap, the DEC said they should wash the touched spot with cold soap and water, and stay away from sunlight for 48 hours.
The DEC said that if you see it, take pictures at a safe distance, send those pictures to it for professional removal. The Giant Hogweed hotline is 1-845-256-3111.

Asian Longhorned Beetle, scientific name Anoplophora glabripennis

The Asian Longhorned Beetle does not naturally migrate – the danger is in transporting wood, especially firewood.

The DEC asks that pool owners look for it in their filters – they can participate in a survey in the summer to look for it. Transported from China, Japan and Korea via packing material, it has a black body with white spots, giving it the nickname the starry night beetle.

The ALB is not to be confused with a similar invasive species, the Emerald Ash Borer. The EAB damages ash trees, while the ALB damages many other trees – especially maple.

It eats through trees as a larva, leaving round, pencil-sized holes in the bark. A way to stop the ALB in its feeding frenzy is to cut the tree down and run it through a wood chipper.