Curly-Leaf pondweed is a submerged aquatic macrophyte. It's leaves are oblong and attached directly to the stem in an alternate pattern. The leaf margins of P. crispus are wavy, resembling a lasagna noodle or piece of bacon, and have fine teeth all along the leaf margins. When submerged, the plant appears reddish-brown, but when removed from the water it's green color becomes apparent.

Asian clams are small, light-colored bivalves with distinct elevated conentric growth rings. The exterior shells of asian clam are typically light tan or brown, but color can vary significantly between waterbodies. The interior of the shell is generally of white to light blue coloration. Adult asian clams are typically 20mm or less, but size can also vary significantly for this species. Asian clams can be differentiated from native fingernail clams by the number of cardinal teeth present. Invasive Asian Clams will have 3 cardinal teeth, while native fingernail clams only have 1 or 2. 

Eurasian watermilfoil is a submersed aquatic plant identified by long stems with feather-like leaves arranged in whorls of four around the stem. Each leaf is finely divided into 9 to 21 pairs of leaflets. Leaves are limp when removed from the water. Each stem usually branches several times as it reaches the water surface, forming a dense floating mat. The stems often turn red, especially towards the top of the plant. Spikes with small, reddish flowers rise above the water surface.

European frogbit has long roots, up to 50cm, that are typically suspended in the water column rather than attached to the sediment beds. As a stoloniferous plant with steam-like extensions producing new growth, an individual can range from .1-1.5m across with distinct rosettes or plantlets varying between 1 and 30cm. The rosettes contain entire, heart-shaped leaves, 1.2-6cm long and 1.3-6.3cm wide. Green marks the topside of the leaves, while a purplish-red spongy underside is characteristic of European frogbit. Most but not all populations are considered dioecious, displaying emergent, small, white solitary female and clustered male flowers.

Fanwort is a submersed aquatic plant with decorative leaves and attractive, emergent flowers. Fanworts name is derived from its foliage's appearance, and thus its green to sometimes reddish, submersed vegetation has fan shaped leaves. The oppositely arranged leaves are usually 1-3.5cm by 1.5-6cm with 5-7 main blades that are palmately divided. Also it can display dark green, floating leaves that are 1-4mm by 5-30mm, alternatively arranged, and oval in shape. Fanwort displays small (1.75cm) white /cream, occasionally pink/purplish colored, solitary flowers blooming throughout the summer. 

Two different biotypes of hydrilla exist. The female dioecious biotype populations only produce female flowers, while the monoecious biotype populations have both male and female flowers upon the same plant. Branching of hydrilla is sparse until it reaches the water's surface, and then bifurcation becomes extremely profuse, forming thick, dense mats in the upper parts of the water column.

The leaves of hydrilla are typically 2-4mm wide by 6-20mm long and occur in whorls of 3-8. It can be identified by the presence of fine serrations on the margins of the leaves. In addition, the dioecious biotype may have sharp spines along the underside of the leaves' midrib.

The spiny water flea is a free swimming, cladoceran zooplankton with a unique body structure. Its average length is only about one centimeter, but its long tail spine (70% of animal's total length) makes it easily distinguishable from other invertebrates and zooplankton. The spine has one to four pairs are thorn-like barbs.

It has a large, black compound eye, and therefore vision is thought to play a role in  prey detection and encounter.

Zebra mussels are small, ¼” to 1 ½” long, and D-shaped with light and dark brown stripes. They have byssal threads that allow them to attach to solid surfaces. They inhabit freshwater to depths of 50 feet, attaching to most surfaces including sand, silt, and harder substrates.

Water chestnut is a submerged aquatic macrophyte with floating and submersed leaves, best suited for shallow, nutrient-rich lakes and slow flowing rivers. Submersed leaves are feathery and are whorled around a spongy stem. The floating leaves, which are triangular with prominent toothed edges, form a rosette at the end of the stem. A small white flower will sprout in the center of the rosette. The plant produces hard, nut like seeds, with four sharp spines that fall to the sediment and produce new plants.

Round gobies are small fish with a large head and bulging eyes. They generally grow 3-6 inches in length but can get as large as 10 inches long. There are similar looking native fish, like sculpins and darters, but the key identification characteristics of round goby are a dark spot on the dorsal fin and a single fused, suction-cup-like pelvic fin.

Round goby are bottom dwelling fish that can inhabit lakes, ponds, and streams. They prefer areas that offer rocks or plants in shallow areas.

Variable leaf milfoil is a submerged aquatic plant with fine, feather like leaves whorled around a main stem. There are generally 4-6 leaves per whorl and commonly 5-14 pairs of leaflets per leaf. Stems are heavy and stiff, a characteristic that helps to differentiate the plant from native northern milfoil or invasive Eurasian water milfoil. The stems can reach heights of 15 feet and are usually a green to reddish hue. M. heterophyllum will flower around July and produce a 3-6 inch emergent stalk. The flowers are small and white and occur in the axils of the emergent bract.

• Early nymphs: Black bodies with white spots

• Late nymphs: Red bodies with white and black markings

• Adults: Red hind wings, gray forewings with black spots

Infestations may cause a buildup of sticky fluid (honeydew) and sooty mold on host plants and the ground beneath

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is tiny, less than 1/16 inches long, and is dark reddish-brown to purplish-black in color. Its name derives from a white “wool-like” covering called an ovisac on mature egg laying adults.

The white, woolly ovisacs can be easily identified on the undersides of hemlock branch tips from late fall to early summer. Look for white woolly growths attached to the twig on the underside of tree branches. Affected trees can eventually turn pale green or gray. In spring, affected trees lack new shoots/growth.

Purple loosestrife is an erect, herbaceous perennial that grows 3-7 feet. It is easily identified by its showy, magenta flowers from July to September. Linear shaped leaves grow oppositely along square stems. This aggressive plant spreads both vegetatively and by abundant seed dispersal.

There are three species of jumping worms that are very similar in appearance. On average, mature worms are 4-5 inches long with dry, smooth bodies. The clitellum (a band that circles the body) is white or gray in color and smooth to the body. When handled, jumping worms will thrash or wiggle violently. Mature worms are most likely to be found from August to September

There are multiple closely related knotweed species present in New York State and the Adirondack PRISM: Japanese knotweed, giant knotweed, and Bohemian knotweed. All species are fast-growing, herbaceous perennial shrubs with jointed, hollow stems. The leaves vary in size between each species, but are generally alternate, leathery, and broadly ovate. A cascade of white flowers bloom in August, and dormant reddish-brown stems are visible in winter.

Emerald ash borer has a golden-green body with dark, metallic green wings and a purplish-red abdomen. Adult beetles average 3/8″ to 3/4″ long and 1/6″ wide. Emerald ash borer emerges in late spring, flying from June to August

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a biennial herb that grows as a rosette of kidney-shaped leaves in the first year. The second-year plant can grow multiple stems up to four feet high with triangular, sharply-toothed leaves. In May, four-petaled, white flowers grow in clusters at the top of the stem. Garlic mustard produces a multitude of seeds, which can remain viable for seven years or more.

Wild Parsnip grows 2-5 feet tall, has yellow, flat-topped umbel flower clusters and deeply lobed leaves with jagged, saw-toothed edges. Leaflets grow opposite one another in pairs along the stalk. The stem is hollow and grooved. The stem and leaves closely resembling celery. Wild Parsnip blooms June through July and prefers areas with full sun.

Note: It poses a threat to human health as the sap causes a painful rash and blistering from the sap that persists for months.

Japanese barberry is a spiny deciduous shrub that can reach 6 feet in height. Leaves are small and oval with smooth margins. There are two common color morphs, a dark-green and deep-purple variety. The green form is usually associated with shaded sites, while the purple morph is more common in full sun. Japanese barberry has a single spine at each node where the leaves meet the stem. Flowers are very small, white to yellow in color, and bloom in April or May. Fruits are small oval bright-red berries that are approximately 1cm long. The inner roots and stem of Japanese barberry are vibrant yellow in color.

Japanese barberry closely resembles another invasive shrub, common barberry (Berberis vulgaris).

Asian longhorned beetles have a glossy black body with white spots on top of their wings. Adults are 3/4″ to 1″ long. Antennae are roughly twice the body length with distinctive black and white bands. The legs and antennae may have a bluish tinge. Adults are present from July to October.

This forest pest leaves round exit holes in host trees that are 3/8″ to 3/4″ in diameter. Sawdust (frass) often accumulates on twigs or near the host tree. Dead and dying tree limbs with yellowing leaves are also a common sign of an infestation.

Beetles are about 4 mm (5/32 “). Recently, almost all reports of symptomatic trees have been in DEC regions 5 & 6 (Eastern and Western Adirondacks). Signs of ELB infestations include two millimeters (3/32”) bore holes in the trunk and branches, defoliation before the larch’s natural deciduous needle drop in the fall, sap runs not caused by physical damage, bark stripped from the tree by woodpeckers and vertical boring galleries in the phloem.