Asia-native
Guides
Anthophora villosula
Asian Shaggy Digger Bee
Anthophora villosula is a solitary digger bee native to Asia that was introduced to North America in 1988. The species has established populations in Maryland and is undergoing ongoing distribution expansion across the United States. As an exotic bee introduced for crop pollination, it has received limited research attention despite its potential ecological impacts on native bee and floral communities.
Aproceros
Aproceros is a genus of sawflies in the family Argidae, comprising ten recognized species native to eastern Asia. The genus gained international attention following the introduction of Aproceros leucopoda (elm zigzag sawfly) to Europe around 2003 and subsequently to North America in 2020. This invasive species has demonstrated rapid range expansion and significant defoliation capacity on elm trees (Ulmus spp.). Most Aproceros species remain restricted to their native East Asian ranges, with limited biological information available for the genus beyond A. leucopoda.
Attulus fasciger
Asiatic Wall Jumping Spider
Attulus fasciger is a small jumping spider native to northern and western Asia, introduced to North America in the mid-20th century. It measures 3–4 mm and exhibits brownish-black coloration with mottled brown-and-grey patterning. The species has successfully established in human-modified environments, particularly on man-made structures where artificial lighting extends its foraging opportunities. Males are distinguished from females by a more slender abdomen and enlarged black palps.
Balcha indica
Balcha indica is a solitary ectoparasitoid wasp in the family Eupelmidae, native to Asia and accidentally introduced to North America. It attacks larvae, prepupae, and pupae of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), an invasive wood-boring beetle threatening ash trees. Under laboratory conditions, the species exhibits extended adult longevity (mean 59 days, maximum 117 days) and reproduces via thelytokous parthenogenesis. Development from egg to adult takes approximately 83 days at 25°C, suggesting one to two generations per year in temperate North American regions. The species has been recovered from field surveys in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Ontario, Virginia, and West Virginia, where it functions as an adventitious biological control agent of this invasive pest.
Brachyplatys subaeneus
black bean bug
Brachyplatys subaeneus, commonly known as the black bean bug, is a shield bug in the family Plataspidae native to Asia. It has established invasive populations in the Western Hemisphere, first detected in Panama in 2012 and subsequently reported from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, and Florida (USA). The species is a significant agricultural pest with a strong preference for legume crops, though it feeds on multiple plant families. Genetic studies have identified three distinct lineages within its native range and traced invasive populations to specific source regions.
Diestrammena asynamora
Greenhouse camel cricket, Asian camel cricket, Greenhouse stone cricket
Diestrammena asynamora, commonly known as the greenhouse camel cricket or Asian camel cricket, is a wingless orthopteran native to China and other parts of Asia. First detected in the United States in a Minnesota greenhouse in 1898, it has become the dominant camel cricket species in human dwellings across eastern North America, now comprising over 90% of camel crickets found in homes in regions like Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. This species thrives in dark, damp, cool environments including basements, crawl spaces, caves, and tool sheds.
Fiorinia
Fiorinia is a genus of armored scale insects (family Diaspididae) comprising approximately 70 species. The genus is characterized by pupillarial development, where the adult female remains enclosed within the second-instar exuviae. Species are predominantly distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia and the Pacific Islands, though several have become invasive pests globally through trade in ornamental plants. Notable invasive species include F. externa (elongate hemlock scale), F. fioriniae (palm fiorinia scale), F. phantasma (phantasma scale), and F. theae (tea scale).
Megachile sculpturalis
giant resin bee, sculptured resin bee
Megachile sculpturalis is a large solitary leafcutting bee native to Japan, China, and South Korea. First detected in North Carolina in 1994, it has become established across much of eastern North America and has spread rapidly through Europe since its first detection near Marseille, France in 2008. Females are notably larger than males and use their powerful mandibles to collect plant resin for sealing brood cells. Unlike carpenter bees, M. sculpturalis cannot excavate wood and relies entirely on pre-existing cavities, particularly abandoned galleries of carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) in wooden structures.
Myosides seriehispidus
Hair-banded Broad-nosed Weevil
Myosides seriehispidus is a broad-nosed weevil native to Asia that has established populations in North America since 2000. It is notable for its triploid chromosome complement and obligate parthenogenetic reproduction, meaning all individuals are female and reproduce without mating. The species is commonly known as the Hair-banded Broad-nosed Weevil.
Osmia cornifrons
Horn-faced Mason Bee, Horned-face Bee
Osmia cornifrons is a solitary mason bee native to Northern Asia, widely managed as an agricultural pollinator. The species was first introduced to Japan in the 1940s for apple pollination and subsequently to the northeastern United States in 1977. It is recognized by distinctive horn-like projections on the lower face of females. The bee exhibits protandry, with males emerging 2–3 days before females. It has been documented as established in Canada since at least 2017. Populations remain stable and have not shown rapid expansion compared to the accidentally introduced congener O. taurus.
Osmia taurus
Taurus Mason Bee
Osmia taurus is a mason bee native to eastern Asia that was accidentally introduced to North America, first recorded in Maryland and West Virginia in 2002. The species has undergone rapid population expansion across the eastern United States, with established populations now confirmed in Canada (Ontario and Quebec). Its spread has been linked to commercial shipments of the intentionally introduced pollinator Osmia cornifrons, with which it is frequently confused. Population growth of O. taurus in the Mid-Atlantic region reached 800% over 15 years, coinciding with documented declines of 76–91% in six native mason bee species.
Pholcus manueli
Manuel's Cellar Spider, cellar spider, daddy longlegs
Pholcus manueli is a cellar spider (family Pholcidae) native to temperate Asia, with established introduced populations in the United States. The species is expanding its range in North America and has been documented in anthropogenic habitats. It exhibits leg autotomy as an anti-predator defense, with autotomy rates in natural populations ranging 5–40%. Unlike some related cellar spiders, P. manueli does not regenerate lost legs. The species has been the subject of research on locomotor performance across inclined substrates.
Rusicada privata
Hibiscus Leaf Caterpillar Moth
Rusicada privata is a moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the hibiscus-leaf caterpillar moth. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1865. It occurs in East Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan) and has been recorded in North America, particularly the northeastern United States. The specific epithet and common name suggest an association with hibiscus plants.
Telmatogeton japonicus
Telmatogeton japonicus is a marine midge species described from Japan in 1933. It has been introduced to coastal areas of North America and Europe, where it has been recorded from the Wadden Sea and Belgian marine waters. The species belongs to the subfamily Telmatogetoninae, a group of chironomid midges specialized for intertidal and marine environments.
Tetragnatha nitens
Nitens long-jawed spider
Tetragnatha nitens is a long-jawed orb weaver spider with a cosmotropical distribution spanning tropical and subtropical Asia, where it is native, and numerous introduced regions including the Americas, Macaronesia, Mediterranean Europe, Africa, Madagascar, Pacific islands, and New Zealand. The species constructs horizontal orb webs in vegetation and has demonstrated ecological adaptability across diverse biomes including Fynbos, Grassland, Savanna, and Thicket. Listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographic range and presence in multiple protected areas.
Ulomoides
Chinese beetle, Chinese weevil, peanut beetle, cancer beetle, asthma beetle, gorgojo chino
Ulomoides is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) native to Asia. The most well-known species, Ulomoides dermestoides, has spread globally due to human cultivation for alleged medicinal purposes. Members of this genus are stored product pests that feed on grain and grain products. The beetles produce defensive quinones that have cytotoxic properties.