Invasive-species-competition
Guides
Olla v-nigrum
Ashy Gray Lady Beetle
Olla v-nigrum is a small lady beetle (Coccinellidae) native to the Americas, commonly known as the ashy gray lady beetle. The species exhibits striking color polymorphism, occurring in both gray-with-black-spots and black-with-red-spots forms. It has been widely introduced outside its native range for biological control of psyllids and aphids, though its effectiveness is often compromised by parasitism and competition with other lady beetles. The species name refers to the distinctive V-shaped marking on the pronotum originally described by Mulsant.
Polistes fuscatus
Northern Paper Wasp, Dark Paper Wasp, Golden Paper Wasp
Polistes fuscatus is a primitively eusocial paper wasp native to eastern North America, ranging from southern Canada through the United States. It builds exposed, umbrella-shaped paper nests suspended from a single stalk, typically in semi-protected locations near human structures or in woodlands. The species exhibits a linear dominance hierarchy centered on a single dominant foundress, with remarkable individual recognition capabilities based on variable facial and abdominal markings. P. fuscatus has experienced significant population decline due to competition from the invasive European paper wasp, Polistes dominula.
Sigmoria ainsliei
Sigmoria ainsliei is a large flat-backed millipede in the family Xystodesmidae, endemic to a narrow region of eastern Tennessee. First described in 1921, it is one of the largest xystodesmid millipedes in North America, with adults exceeding 50 mm in length. The species has a highly restricted distribution spanning approximately 50 km from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Knoxville.