New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials are urging residents to report sightings of the Elm ZigZag Sawfly, an invasive species that’s started to spread throughout the state.
Researchers say there’s no cause for panic but confirmed its presence in at least two counties in the Finger Lakes and Central New York regions, including Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Clinton, Warren, Madison, Ontario, and St. Lawrence.
The Elm ZigZag Sawfly, first identified in the state this year, poses a challenge to the already-struggling native elm population, previously devastated by Dutch elm disease.
The DEC is collaborating with SUNY ESF on a research project to understand the insect’s behavior, including its generational cycles and potential predators.
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