Invasive Species/Invasive Species List

This is the National Invasive Species Official List with information on each taxon. As indicated here, one should study the following:


 * Common name and Scientific Name
 * Pictures of the species with unique identification tips, damage it causes and life cycle
 * Region or Origin and Year of introduction
 * State or Body of Water where first discovered
 * How was it introduced
 * Transport – How is it spread and history of its spread throughout the country
 * Distribution Map
 * Mode of Reproduction
 * Adaptive Anatomy and special adaptions to the environment
 * Habitat Characteristics as diet, behavior, niche, species displacement, trophic level
 * Damage it does and how it effects the environment and natural food web of the environment-ecological, biological, human health and economic damage
 * Preventive Measures
 * Control Methods and Effectiveness of each methods
 * Laws or Regulations about collecting or distributing this species.

Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus)
Native to: Tropical and subtropical areas of southern Asia

Introduced to: Europe, North America, South America, The Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East

Prevention: Monitoring and surveillance

Impacts: Carries diseases; lives close with humans instead of in the wetlands



Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata)


The Mediterranean fruit fly is considered one of the world's most destructive pests. It has a blackish thorax with some gray areas, a tan abdomen with dark stripes, and clear wings with light brown bands and gray flecks.


 * Origin, Year of Introduction: The Mediterranean fruit fly originated in sub-Saharan Africa. It established in Hawaii during 1910, and Hawaii is still infested with the fruit fly. California, Florida, and Texas have had infestations but successfully prevented the fruit fly from being established.
 * How was it introduced? : The Mediterranean fruit fly is often accidentally introduced by tourists or importers that bring in contaminated fruit.
 * Life Cycle, Mode of Reproduction: With optimum conditions, the fruit fly takes about 21 days to go from larva to adult. Under 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the fruit fly can take as long as 100 days to turn into an adult.

Asian Long-Horned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

 * Identification- Adult beetles have bullet-shaped bodies from 3/4 inch to 1-1/2 inches long, shiny black with white spots and long striped antennae, 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 times the size of its body.
 * First discovered in Brooklyn, New York, 1996. It was later detected in Chicago Illinois in July, 1998. In October 2002, it was discovered in New Jersey.
 * The beetle may have been accidentally introduced through wood packing materials, or wooden crates and pallets.
 * The beetle can spread through lumber
 * Eggs are laid in the bark of trees. They take 10-15 days to hatch into wormlike grubs. Adult beetles emerge during the summer and live into early fall. Sexual reproduction.
 * The beetle primarily damages and kills maple trees. The larvae burrow through tissue that carries water throughout the tree, and the tree dies. Unseasonable yellow or drooping leaves are also signs of an ALB infestation. Excessive sawdust buildup near the bottom of the tree is also common. Pencil sized exit holes show where adult beetles have burrowed out.
 * Control methods- some control methods include quarantining the area where beetles have been discovered, or to destroy the infested trees.

Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri)



 * Identification: The asian citrus psyllid can be identified by its mottled brown wings around the outer edge, which are broken by a clear stripe. It also has red eyes and short antennae.
 * Damage: Nymphs feed on new leaves and shoots, and can also infect the citrus tree with Huanglongbing, or HLB. The tree affected produces fruit low in solubles, high in acids, and bitter. When the fruit matures, the fruit has a green color on the navel end, which was the origin of the alternative name for HLB: citrus greening disease.
 * Life Cycle: Eggs are laid on tips of growing shoots on and between unfurling leaves. Females may lay more than 800 eggs during their lives. Nymphs pass through five instars. The total life cycle is about 15 to 47 days, depending upon the season. Adults may live for several months. There is no diapause, but populations are low in winter (the dry season). There are nine to 10 generations a year.
 * Region/Origin and Year of Introduction: The asian citrus psyllid is widely found in southern Asia. It was first detected in June, 1998 on the east coast of Florida.
 * State or body of water first detected: As stated above, the east coast of Florida.
 * How it was introduced: The asian citrus psyllid is theorized to have arrived on imported plants.
 * Transport: The asian citrus psyllid was transported around the country on nursery stock trees. It could also spread through backyard citrus trees.
 * Distribution map:

The orange areas are where only the psyllid has been detected. The green areas are where HLB has also been found.
 * Mode of Reproduction: Asian citrus psyllids are asexual, meaning that they don't need to find a mate to reproduce.
 * Diet, behavior, niche, species displacement, trophic level: Nymphs feed only on the new growths of the citrus tree. The adults feed on the leaves and stems.