Modules 2, 3, and 4 will go over the groups of potential invasive insects in more detail, including identification information and what signs and symptoms to look for. If you encounter a specimen or suspicious damage, here’s how to collect it and/or submit a photo.

If you observe an insect damaging a tree and cannot identify it as one of our native species, it is best to collect the specimen and submit it for identification.

Insect specimens, while somewhat sturdy, are still fairly fragile and should be treated with care. Live insects should be killed before submitting them. Insects can be killed by placing them in the freezer for a night or two or by drowning them in alcohol (70% rubbing alcohol will work). Insects can then be placed in a tightly sealed, sturdy container and brought or mailed to your local Cooperative Extension office.

Please group specimens by the location/tree from which they were collected. Do not put specimens from different locations in the same container. Please include collection information with each container submitted.

An important aspect of insect specimens that people often forget is the importance of collection information. When you collect a specimen, please make note of the following data:

Location information – Country, state, location
Latitude/Longitude – If possible collect this with a GPS unit and include +/- accuracy. If you do not use a GPS unit, a physical address is second best.
Habitat description, host plant, collection method used (e.g. hand collected, sweep net, trap)
Date and collector – Abbreviate date with letters not numbers to avoid confusion.

Example:

USA: Alaska: Anchorage
61.205825, -149.88631 +/- 10m
Ornamental landscape, lilac shrub, hand collected
13JUL 2015 M.J. Moan

If you do not find any insects, photos of suspicious damage are also welcome! Photos can be submitted through our Pest Portal .

Digital photos can be great tools for insect identifications. Keep in mind, though, that photos are not without their limitations. The tips below can help improve the likelihood of getting an accurate and quick diagnosis when submitting digital photos.

Check photos for clarity before submitting
Submit original, unedited photos
Include a size reference in your photo (coins and pencils/pens work great if you don’t have a ruler available)
Include as much information about the subject as possible
Include the same collection information as if you were submitting a physical specimen