Insectropolis Adds New Interactive Invasive Pest Activity Station

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher this week unveiled an invasive pest activity station at Insectropolis, an insect learning center in Toms River, as part of the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Pest Outreach Survey Program’s efforts to educate people about invasive pests that can damage trees and forests.

The interactive educational resource, consisting of a computer screen set inside a fabricated tree trunk, is meant to teach people more about invasive pests, what they should look for, how they impact the ecology and environment, and steps to take to prevent them from spreading.  It also points out the differences between damaging invasive pests and beneficial invasives.  “Insectropolis offers a terrific venue to reach large numbers of people who can act as scouts for these damaging and dangerous forest pests,” said Secretary Fisher.  “The faster we know of an infestation, the better chance we have of preventing tree damage.”

The activity station was a cooperative effort between the Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Pest Quarantine and Insectropolis.
The Insectropolis is a bug museum located on Route 9 in Toms River, NJ, that is owned and operated by pest control company Ozane.

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Source: www.tomsrivernjonline.com