Bugwood Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

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Tifton, GA
Bugwood Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

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Utilizing partnerships & information technology to advance invasive species, forestry & agriculture education

11/04/2026

Meet Annabelle Trutt! 💻

From creating polished websites to solving technical issues, Annabelle helps keep Bugwood’s online resources looking good and running smoothly. She joined the Bugwood team in August 2024 as an IT/Web Development Assistant.

What does she do?

🎨 Gives websites a polished and user-friendly look
🐛 Finds and fixes errors on webpages
🔍 Monitors websites for potential issues

Fun Fact: When she’s not working on websites, Annabelle loves crocheting and creating all kinds of art! 🧶

Annabelle proves that a little creativity can go a long way—whether she’s working with a webpage or a ball of yarn! 💻

10/31/2026

🎃 Trick or Treat? Not every tree with brilliant fall color is a treat for local ecosystems. While invasive Callery pear and native serviceberry can both put on a stunning autumn display, a closer look reveals some key differences. Can you spot the trick from the treat? Test your plant ID skills, then help protect native habitats by reporting sightings of invasive species through EDDMapS. 📍🍁

Need a clue? Callery pear leaves are thick, glossy, and almost round with smooth edges. Native serviceberry leaves are more oval-shaped and have fine teeth along the leaf margins.

10/30/2026

📢 Happening today: 2026 Joro Spider Wrap-Up! 🕷️

It’s time to wrap up the 5th Annual Joro Spider Spotting and Photo Contest!

Join us for Office Hours today as we look back at another year of spotting, reporting, and photographing Joro spiders. We’ll share highlights from the 2026 contest and explore this year’s observations and reporting activity.

A big thank you to everyone who spotted, reported, and shared photos this year—your participation helps make this project possible!

Please note that this topic is tentative pending finalization of the 2026 data.

📝 Register at bugwood.org/office-hours

10/28/2026

Meet Vamshi Nilagiri! 💻

If you’ve ever wondered who keeps the technology behind Bugwood running smoothly, look no further! Vamshi joined the Bugwood team in July 2024 as our System Administrator, helping keep our technology reliable, secure, and ready to support the work we do.

What does he do?

💻 Keeps Bugwood’s computers, servers, websites, and technology running smoothly
🛠️ Helps staff troubleshoot computer, software, account, and other technical issues
🔐 Maintains and improves our technology to keep everything reliable, secure, and working properly

Fun Fact: Vamshi’s favorite superhero is Iron Man! 💥

With Vamshi on the team, we know our technology is in superhero hands! 🦸‍♂️

10/28/2026

Five years of spotting and reporting Joro spiders! Join us as we wrap up the 5th Annual Joro Spider Spotting and Photo Contest during our Bugwood Office Hours session on October 30 at 1:00 pm ET.

We’ll explore this year’s observations, reporting activity, and highlights from the spotting and photo contest..

📊 Please note: This presentation is tentative and will depend on the availability of finalized 2026 reporting data and contest results. If results are still being reviewed, the session topic may be adjusted.

✅ Free to attend
💻 Online
📝 Registration required

Register: bugwood.org/office-hours

10/27/2026

The mobile Squeal on Pigs! app supports reporting both new and sick or dead feral swine sightings. Hunters, with deer season underway, if you see something, Squeal on It!

Feral swine wreak havoc on farms and ranches - and their ability to cross fence lines means they could spread New World screwworm.

APHIS Wildlife Services has checked 13,152 feral swine for NWS since July 2025. Stay alert and keep reporting - your eyes on the herd and on wildlife are critical to help us

10/27/2026

🌲 Explore for free on October 27! 🌲

Celebrate Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday with free admission to National Park Service sites and participating U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands. Before you hit the trails, download the Wild Spotter app and help protect your local wild places by reporting invasive species sightings along the way.

10/25/2026

🎉 10,000,000 records and counting! Thanks to the thousands of land managers, researchers, volunteers, and citizen scientists who have contributed observations to EDDMapS.org over the years. Every report helps track invasive species, support early detection, and protect our natural resources. You've helped us reach this incredible milestone. Here's to the next million! 🌱🗺️📍

10/24/2026

10/23/2026

🪲 Creature Feature: Asian Longhorned Beetle

The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is an invasive wood-boring insect that attacks a variety of hardwood trees, including maples, elms, birches, and willows. Their larvae tunnel deep into tree trunks and branches, disrupting the flow of water and nutrients and eventually killing the tree.

Learning to identify and report invasive species like the Asian longhorned beetle helps protect our forests and communities. If you suspect a sighting, report it through EDDMapS.org. 🌳🪲

Address

4601 Research Way, Admin Bldg
Tifton, GA
31793

Telephone

+12293863298

Website

http://www.bugwood.org/

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