Invasive-species

Guides

Amphimallon majale
European chafer
A scarab beetle native to continental Europe, now invasive in temperate North America where it is commonly called a June bug. The large, white larvae (grubs) feed on grass roots and are significant pests of lawns and turfgrass. Adults are short-lived and primarily reproductive. The species has been introduced to Canada and the United States, where it lacks natural population controls.
scarab-beetle white-grub turf-pest invasive-species contact-arrestant imidacloprid root-feeder Melolonthinae
Anastrepha ludens
Mexican fruit fly, Mexfly
Anastrepha ludens, the Mexican fruit fly or Mexfly, is a major agricultural pest native to Mexico and Central America. It is one of the most economically damaging fruit flies, particularly threatening citrus and mango production. The species is notable among Anastrepha species for its subtropical distribution, allowing it to range further north than most congeners. It has been repeatedly introduced to the United States, where it is subject to intensive eradication efforts using sterile insect technique and biological control. The USDA estimates it causes $1.44 billion in damage over five-year periods.
agricultural-pest fruit-fly invasive-species citrus-pest mango-pest subtropical quarantine-pest EPPO-A1-pest
Anisandrus
Anisandrus is a genus of ambrosia beetles in the subfamily Scolytinae, tribe Xyleborini, comprising approximately 40-41 species distributed primarily across Asia, with some species introduced to Europe and North America. The genus is characterized by a mycangial tuft at the pronotal base used for transporting symbiotic fungi. Several species, including A. maiche and A. dispar, are recognized as economically significant pests of fruit orchards, ornamental trees, and forest ecosystems.
ambrosia-beetle invasive-species forest-pest orchard-pest fungal-symbiosis Xyleborini Scolytinae
Anisandrus maiche
Anisandrus maiche is an invasive ambrosia beetle native to East Asia that has established populations in North America and Europe. It is a significant pest of stressed trees in orchards, forests, and ornamental settings, boring into wood and cultivating symbiotic fungi in galleries. The species has been recorded in the United States since 2005, in Italy and Switzerland since 2021-2022, and was previously detected in Ukraine and European Russia. Its spread is facilitated by international transport of wood products and an inbreeding mating system that allows single females to establish new populations.
ambrosia-beetle invasive-species forest-pest orchard-pest symbiotic-fungus Xyleborini haplodiploid inbreeding citizen-science quarantine-pest thermal-biology volatiles ethanol-attraction
Anisoscelini
leaf-footed bugs
Anisoscelini is a tribe of leaf-footed bugs (family Coreidae) characterized by distinctive flattened, leaf-like expansions on the hind tibiae. The tribe comprises approximately 29 genera distributed primarily in the Americas, with greatest diversity in Neotropical regions. Some genera, notably Leptoglossus, have become invasive in Europe and eastern Asia. Members show specialized feeding associations, with some genera exhibiting apparent trophic preferences for Passiflora (passionflowers) and others for conifer species.
Coreidae leaf-footed-bugs Neotropical invasive-species Passiflora conifer-pests foliaceous-legs
Anomala
Pale and Green Leaf Chafers, Shining Leaf Chafers
Anomala is a large genus of scarab beetles containing at least 1,200 described species, commonly known as shining leaf chafers or pale and green leaf chafers. Members are recognized by their metallic or iridescent coloration and compact, oval body shape. The genus includes significant agricultural pests, most notably the Oriental beetle (Anomala orientalis), which was introduced to North America before 1920 and has become established from Maine to the Carolinas and westward. Larvae of many species are root-feeding white grubs that damage turfgrass and ornamental plants.
scarab-beetles white-grubs turf-pests invasive-species nocturnal-feeders metallic-beetles root-feeders ornamental-pests
Anomala orientalis
Oriental beetle, OB
A small scarab beetle native to eastern Asia, now established as an invasive pest in the northeastern United States. Adults are 7–11 mm long with mottled metallic brown and black elytra, often confused with the larger Japanese beetle. The species is notable for its subterranean lifestyle—larvae feed on plant roots while adults emerge briefly to feed on flowers and foliage. Sexual communication relies on a specific sex pheromone blend that has been chemically characterized and exploited for monitoring and control. Heavy infestations can damage turfgrass, ornamental plantings, and agricultural crops including sugarcane, maize, and pineapple.
invasive-species scarab-beetle white-grub turf-pest pheromone-communication mating-disruption nocturnal root-feeder exotic-pest Rutelinae
Anoplophora
longhorn beetles, long-horned beetles
Anoplophora is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) native to Asia, containing over 50 species. Most species are large, colorful beetles with distinctive markings that have made them popular among collectors and subjects of artwork. The genus includes several economically significant pests, most notably the Asian longhorned beetle (A. glabripennis) and the citrus longhorned beetle (A. chinensis), which have been introduced to North America and Europe where they threaten urban, ornamental, and forest trees.
invasive-species forest-pest urban-pest wood-borer longhorn-beetle quarantine-pest polyphagous
Anoplophora glabripennis
Asian longhorned beetle, starry sky beetle, sky beetle, ALB
Anoplophora glabripennis, commonly known as the Asian longhorned beetle or starry sky beetle, is a highly polyphagous wood-boring beetle native to eastern China, Japan, and Korea. It has become a devastating invasive pest in North America and Europe, where it attacks and kills a broad range of hardwood trees. The beetle was first detected in the United States in Brooklyn, New York in 1996, likely arriving via solid wood packaging material. Eradication efforts have focused on tree removal and destruction, though biocontrol methods including entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes have been studied as potential management tools.
invasive-species forest-pest wood-borer urban-forestry biocontrol polyphagous quarantine-pest cerambycidae
Anthidium
Wool Carder Bees, Carder Bees, Potter Bees
Anthidium is a genus of solitary bees in the family Megachilidae containing approximately 80 species. These bees are commonly known as wool carder or potter bees due to their distinctive nest-building behavior: females collect plant hairs, conifer resin, mud, or combinations thereof to construct brood cells. Unlike leafcutter bees in the same family, Anthidium species do not cut leaf pieces. They possess pollen-carrying scopa exclusively on the ventral surface of the abdomen, a characteristic trait of Megachilidae. The genus is primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and South America.
solitary-bee cavity-nester plant-fiber-collector territorial-male-behavior sexual-dimorphism invasive-species pollinator Megachilidae
Anthidium manicatum
European wool carder bee, wool carder bee
Anthidium manicatum, the European wool carder bee, is a solitary, cavity-nesting bee in the family Megachilidae. Females collect plant trichomes (hairs) from leaves such as lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina) to line nest cells, giving the species its common name. Males are highly territorial, defending patches of flowering plants against conspecific males and other pollinators. The species exhibits unusual sexual dimorphism: males are larger than females, contrary to most solitary bees. Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, it has become a widespread invasive species across North America, South America, New Zealand, and the Canary Islands after accidental introduction.
solitary-bee cavity-nester territorial-behavior sexual-dimorphism invasive-species pollinator resource-defense-polygyny plant-trichome-collector
Anthonomus grandis
Cotton Boll Weevil, Boll Weevil
Anthonomus grandis, the cotton boll weevil, is a beetle in the family Curculionidae and a historically destructive pest of cotton (Gossypium spp.). Native to Central America, it spread into the United States in the late 19th century and infested all U.S. cotton-growing regions by the 1920s, causing severe economic damage to the cotton industry. Extensive eradication programs have eliminated populations from most of the United States, though persistent populations remain in extreme South Texas and northern Mexico that threaten reinfestation of adjoining areas. The species also remains a critical pest in South America.
pest cotton curculionidae eradication pheromone-trap agricultural-pest invasive-species integrated-pest-management malathion-susceptibility starvation-response United-States South-America Central-America Mexico Gossypium
Aonidiella aurantii
California red scale, red scale
Aonidiella aurantii, commonly known as California red scale or red scale, is an armored scale insect and major agricultural pest of citrus and other crops. Native to South China, it has spread globally through human-mediated transport of infected plant material, first appearing in California between 1868 and 1875. The species is now established across six continents and infests over 77 plant families, with citrus remaining its primary economic host. Heavy infestations cause fruit pitting, shoot distortion, leaf drop, and tree death.
armored-scale citrus-pest agricultural-pest biological-control invasive-species phytophagous sessile-adult crawler-dispersal integrated-pest-management California-red-scale red-scale
Aphanisticus cochinchinae
Aphanisticus cochinchinae is a small metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, originally described from the Cochinchina region of Southeast Asia. The species has been documented with expanded distribution into the New World, including Hawaii. It belongs to a genus of minute buprestids typically associated with grasses and sedges rather than woody hosts. Two subspecies are recognized: A. c. cochinchinae and A. c. seminulum.
Buprestidae metallic-wood-boring-beetle Southeast-Asia Hawaii invasive-species minute-beetle grass-associated-buprestid
Aphis
Aphis is a large genus of aphids in the family Aphididae containing at least 400–600 species. The genus includes numerous significant agricultural pests, notably the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines), cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii), and apple aphid (Aphis pomi). Many species form mutualistic associations with ants (myrmecophily), exchanging honeydew for protection. Species identification within the genus often requires examination of morphological characters such as siphunculi and cauda structure.
aphid agricultural-pest myrmecophile phloem-feeder parthenogenesis honeydew vector invasive-species
Aphis glycines
Soybean Aphid
Aphis glycines, the soybean aphid, is a small (1–2 mm) invasive pest native to Asia that was first detected in North America in Wisconsin in 2000. It has since become established throughout the north-central United States, where it causes significant economic damage to soybean crops. The species reproduces rapidly and can develop extremely high densities on soybean foliage, with yield losses of up to 40% documented in heavily infested fields. Research has shown that aphid infestation can also increase plant susceptibility to other pests such as soybean cyst nematode.
invasive-species agricultural-pest soybean-pest parthenogenesis phloem-feeder
Aphis illinoisensis
grapevine aphid
Aphis illinoisensis, commonly known as the grapevine aphid, is a phytophagous insect native to North America that has become invasive in Mediterranean regions and other grape-growing areas worldwide. It is a documented vector of Grapevine vein clearing virus (GVCV), transmitting the pathogen from wild Vitaceae to cultivated grapevines. The species exhibits holocyclic life cycle characteristics with documented overwintering on Viburnum species. Its invasive expansion across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East has prompted biocontrol research using native parasitoids and entomopathogenic bacteria.
aphid grape-pest invasive-species virus-vector GVCV biocontrol-target Vitaceae holocyclic host-alternation
Aphis spiraecola
Spirea aphid, green citrus aphid, apple aphid
Aphis spiraecola is a polyphagous aphid species described by Edith Marion Patch in 1914. It is a significant agricultural pest of citrus, apples, and numerous ornamental plants across temperate and tropical regions worldwide. The species exhibits remarkable host flexibility, colonizing over 65 plant genera across more than 20 families. It reproduces primarily through parthenogenesis across most of its range, with holocyclic populations producing sexual morphs on primary hosts Spiraea and Citrus. The species has displaced native Aphis pomi in some regions and is considered invasive in many areas where it has been introduced.
agricultural-pest invasive-species polyphagous parthenogenesis virus-vector citrus-pest apple-pest aphididae global-distribution insecticide-resistance DNA-barcoding-identification
Apis mellifera scutellata
African Honey Bee, East African Lowland Honey Bee, Africanized Honey Bee
Apis mellifera scutellata is a subspecies of the western honey bee native to central, southern, and eastern Africa. It is smaller and slightly darker than European honey bees, with a fuzzy thorax and black-striped abdomen. This subspecies is the primary ancestor of Africanized honey bees, which originated from escaped experimental colonies in Brazil in 1957 and subsequently spread throughout the Americas. A. m. scutellata exhibits heightened defensive behavior, rapid colony growth, and strong swarming tendencies compared to European subspecies.
honey-bee Africanized-bee pollinator invasive-species social-insect agricultural-pest defensive-behavior Varroa-tolerance
Aplos simplex
Velvet-striped planthopper
Aplos simplex is the sole species in the genus Aplos, a planthopper in the family Issidae. Formerly classified under Thionia, this species occurs widely across the eastern United States and has established as an invasive population in Northern Italy and Austria. As an issid planthopper, it belongs to the hemipteran group Auchenorrhyncha, characterized by piercing-sucking mouthparts and often reduced wings.
planthopper issid invasive-species monotypic-genus Auchenorrhyncha Hemiptera
Appendiseta robiniae
Black Locust Aphid
Appendiseta robiniae, the black locust aphid, is the sole species in the monotypic genus Appendiseta. Native to North America, it has become established as an alien species in Europe, where it has adapted successfully to local conditions. In Poland, studies documented up to 11 generations per season on its host plant Robinia pseudoacacia, with females of the second and third generations showing highest fertility. The species exhibits rapid population growth capability due to its biological predispositions.
aphid invasive-species phloem-feeder parthenogenesis multivoltine Robinia-pest
Aproaerema
Aproaerema is a genus of gelechiid moths in the subfamily Anacampsinae. The genus contains at least 11 described species distributed across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Several species are significant agricultural pests, notably Aproaerema modicella (groundnut leaf miner), which causes severe yield losses in groundnut and soybean crops across South and Southeast Asia and has recently invaded Africa. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with molecular and behavioral evidence suggesting relationships among A. modicella, A. simplexella, and related taxa require re-examination.
Gelechiidae leaf-miner agricultural-pest groundnut soybean biological-control invasive-species parasitoid-host taxonomy-unresolved Asia Africa Europe
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.
sawfly defoliator invasive-species forest-pest parthenogenesis Ulmus elm Asia-native Europe-introduced North-America-introduced
Aproceros leucopoda
elm zigzag sawfly
Aproceros leucopoda, commonly known as the elm zigzag sawfly, is a small sawfly native to eastern Asia (China and Japan) that has become an invasive pest in Europe since 2003 and North America since 2020. The species derives its common name from the distinctive zigzag-shaped feeding pattern created by young larvae on elm leaves. Populations are entirely female and reproduce through thelytokous parthenogenesis, enabling rapid establishment from single individuals. The species can cause severe defoliation of elm trees and has recently been documented feeding on Japanese zelkova.
invasive-species forest-pest defoliator parthenogenesis Ulmus Zelkova Hymenoptera Argidae
Araecerus fasciculatus
Coffee Bean Weevil
Araecerus fasciculatus, commonly known as the coffee bean weevil, is a polyphagous stored product pest in the family Anthribidae. Adults measure 3–5 mm with a dome-shaped, dark-brown body mottled with light and dark pubescence. The species has been documented on over 100 host plants including coffee, maize, cassava, nutmeg, dried fruits, and various nuts. It completes its life cycle inside seeds and stored products, with development times varying from 29 to 57 days depending on humidity and temperature. Through international trade, it has achieved cosmopolitan distribution in tropical and subtropical regions and is considered economically significant due to damage and contamination of stored commodities.
stored-product-pest polyphagous cosmopolitan economic-pest seed-predator humidity-dependent-development aggregation-pheromone invasive-species
Arcitalitrus
Lawn Shrimps, Beach Hoppers
Arcitalitrus is a genus of fully terrestrial amphipods commonly known as lawn shrimps or beach hoppers. The genus contains nine described species native to Australasia, with Arcitalitrus dorrieni and A. sylvaticus introduced to Europe and elsewhere through human activity. These crustaceans have adapted to life away from aquatic environments, inhabiting forest leaf litter and soil. Some species have become invasive outside their native range, spreading via the international plant trade.
terrestrial-amphipod lawn-shrimp invasive-species leaf-litter decomposer Australasia Europe-introduction Talitridae
Arcitalitrus sylvaticus
lawn shrimp, lawn prawn, landhopper
Arcitalitrus sylvaticus is a terrestrial amphipod native to Australia and nearby Pacific regions. It has been introduced to California, New Zealand, North Carolina, and Florida, with the first California record in 1967. The species is highly sensitive to moisture conditions, perishing in dry environments and drowning in saturated soils. It serves as a significant primary decomposer of leaf litter in its habitat.
terrestrial-amphipod decomposer invasive-species indicator-species moisture-sensitive
Arhopalus
burnt pine longhorn beetle (A. ferus), black pine sawyer (A. rusticus)
Arhopalus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Spondylidinae: Asemini) distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with several species introduced to the Southern Hemisphere as invasive pests of conifers. The genus comprises approximately 20 described species, with A. rusticus and A. ferus being the most extensively studied due to their economic importance. Species develop in dead or fire-damaged conifer wood, with some exhibiting strong attraction to burnt pine volatiles. Several species produce male-emitted aggregation-sex pheromones containing fuscumol and geranylacetone. Invasive populations in New Zealand, Australia, South America, and South Africa require monitoring at ports and sawmills for timber export compliance.
Cerambycidae Spondylidinae Asemini conifer-pest invasive-species pheromone wood-borer pine forestry quarantine New-Zealand Australia South-America biological-invasion climate-change vector Bursaphelenchus-xylophilus integrated-pest-management monitoring trapping semiochemistry burnt-pine fire-damaged-timber sawmill-pest port-surveillance timber-export deforestation forest-health ecosystem-service decomposer nutrient-cycling life-history reproductive-biology ovarian-development larval-development survival fecundity competition coexistence species-distribution-modeling CMIP6 future-climate-scenarios range-expansion quarantine-pest biosecurity aggregation-pheromone fuscumol geranylacetone electroantennography field-trapping trap-efficacy host-volatiles ethanol alpha-pinene beta-pinene monoterpenes green-leaf-volatiles repellent oviposition-behavior crepuscular-activity nocturnal-activity anemotaxis chemotaxis thermal-biology developmental-plasticity laboratory-rearing artificial-diet 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Arhopalus rusticus
rust pine borer
Arhopalus rusticus is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae: Spondylinae) native to coniferous forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light, hiding under bark during daylight. The species has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and South America through global trade and is considered a significant forestry pest. It is a suspected vector of the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, though research indicates its oviposition behavior does not facilitate nematode transmission. Males produce an aggregation-sex pheromone, (S)-fuscumol, which has potential applications for detection and monitoring.
cerambycidae spondylinae conifer-pest invasive-species pheromone pine-wood-nematode nocturnal wood-borer biennial-life-cycle climate-change-invasive-potential
Armadillidium vulgare
common pill-bug, common pill woodlouse, roly-poly, potato bug, doodle bug, carpenter
Armadillidium vulgare is a terrestrial isopod native to Mediterranean Europe that has become one of the most widespread woodlouse species globally through human-mediated dispersal. It is the most extensively studied terrestrial isopod and serves as a model organism for research on mitochondrial genome evolution, desiccation resistance, and conglobation behavior. The species exhibits remarkable morphological plasticity, including numerous color morphs maintained through selective breeding in the pet trade.
woodlouse terrestrial-isopod conglobation detritivore model-organism invasive-species pet-trade mitochondrial-genome desiccation-resistance calcium-carbonate marsupium direct-development nocturnal aggregation thermotaxis thigmotaxis calcareous-soils nitrogen-cycling climate-mitigation
Arytaina genistae
Broom Psyllid
Arytaina genistae, commonly known as the Broom Psyllid, is a jumping plant louse in the family Psyllidae. The species is native to Europe and has been introduced to North America, where it has become established across much of the United States. It is associated with brooms (Genista and Cytisus species) as its host plants. The species is of interest both as a potential biological control agent for invasive brooms and as a pest of ornamental and cultivated broom species.
psyllid jumping-plant-louse biological-control invasive-species Fabaceae-specialist
Aspidiotus destructor
coconut scale, transparent scale, Bourbon scale
Aspidiotus destructor is an armored scale insect (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) known as the coconut scale. It is a globally distributed pest of tropical and subtropical agriculture, causing significant damage to coconut, banana, and numerous other fruit and ornamental plants. The species is notable for its rapid reproduction and the protective waxy test that covers most life stages. It has been the target of extensive biological control efforts, most famously the successful introduction of the lady beetle Cryptognatha nodiceps to Guam in the early 1900s. The species harbors a primary bacterial endosymbiont, Candidatus Uzinura diaspidicola, which may play a role in its biology and potential management.
pest agricultural-pest scale-insect biological-control coconut-pest tropical-agriculture invasive-species endosymbiont Diaspididae Hemiptera
Aspilanta
Aspilanta is a genus of minute leaf-mining moths in the family Heliozelidae, erected in 2020 to accommodate North American species previously assigned to Antispila. Adults are distinguished by reduced wing venation and small size (wingspan 4.0–6.2 mm). Larvae feed internally in leaves of woody plants, primarily Vitaceae (grape family), with two species known from Hydrangeaceae and Myricaceae. The genus name is a partial anagram of Antispila.
leaf-miner grape-pest invasive-species North-America Heliozelidae Vitaceae shield-bearer-moth
Aspilanta oinophylla
Aspilanta oinophylla is a minute leafmining moth in the family Heliozelidae, native to eastern North America and introduced to Italy where it has become a pest of commercial vineyards. It is the type species of the genus Aspilanta, erected in 2020 for Nearctic heliozelids with reduced wing venation previously placed in Antispila. The larvae feed as leaf miners on Vitaceae, particularly grapevines, and cut characteristic shield-shaped pupal cases from their host leaves.
leafminer invasive-species vineyard-pest Vitaceae grapevine North-America Italy Heliozelidae shield-bearer-moth DNA-barcoding
Astacidae
Astacid Crayfishes, Freshwater Crayfish
Astacidae is a family of freshwater crayfish comprising four extant genera: Astacus, Austropotamobius, Pontastacus, and Pacifastacus. Members are native to Europe, western Asia, and western North America. The family is distinguished by a gonopore positioned on the coxa of the third pair of walking legs in males (fifth pair in females), a trait shared with all Astacoidea. Several species, particularly Pacifastacus leniusculus (signal crayfish), have become invasive outside their native ranges, carrying crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci) that threatens native European populations.
crayfish freshwater decapod invasive-species crayfish-plague ecosystem-engineer conservation commercial-fishery Europe North-America western-Asia keystone-species nocturnal burrowing rheophilic EU-Habitats-Directive
Asynapta
Asynapta is a genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, subfamily Porricondylinae. The genus contains approximately 49 species globally, with Asynapta groverae being the only member documented in South Korea. This species is notable as an invasive mycophagous pest that has established populations in indoor environments since 2008. The genus is characterized by small, delicate flies typical of the Cecidomyiidae family.
gall-midge mycophagous invasive-species indoor-pest Cecidomyiidae
Atherigona
Shoot Flies
Atherigona is a genus of muscid flies containing approximately 299 recognized species. Many species are economically significant agricultural pests, particularly in cereal cultivation. Larvae of numerous species are known as shoot flies, attacking the seedlings and stems of rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, and various millets. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australasia, with species diversity concentrated in tropical and subtropical grassland habitats.
agricultural-pest cereal-pest shoot-fly grassland-habitat quarantine-pest invasive-species
Atherigona reversura
Bermudagrass Stem Maggot, shoot-fly
Atherigona reversura is a muscid shoot fly commonly known as the bermudagrass stem maggot. Native to Central and Southeast Asia, it has become an invasive agricultural pest in the Americas, causing significant damage to bermudagrass and stargrass forage systems. The species was first detected in Hawaii, then spread to the continental United States beginning in 2009, and has since been reported in South America including Argentina and Uruguay. Larval feeding in grass stems causes death of upper leaves, stunted growth, and reduced forage yields.
agricultural-pest invasive-species forage-pest internal-feeder stem-borer dipteran-pest
Atractotomus mali
Atractotomus mali is a zoophytophagous plant bug in the family Miridae, native to Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China) and introduced to North America. First described in 1843, it has become a recognized pest of apple (Malus domestica) in Canadian orchards, particularly in Nova Scotia where it was first documented causing fruit damage in the mid-20th century. The species was first recorded in Quebec in 2014, expanding its known Canadian distribution. Its feeding behavior combines plant and animal matter, though it has been observed causing more damage to fruit than providing predatory benefits in some orchard contexts.
zoophytophagous orchard-pest apple-pest invasive-species agricultural-entomology Canada Nova-Scotia Quebec
Atrichonotus
Atrichonotus is a genus of broad-nosed weevils (family Curculionidae) comprising nine described species. The genus was established by Buchanan in 1939 and is classified within the tribe Naupactini. At least one species, Atrichonotus taeniatulus, has been introduced and established in New Zealand from its native South American range. The genus is part of the diverse Entiminae subfamily, commonly known as broad-nosed or root weevils.
Curculionidae Entiminae Naupactini broad-nosed-weevil South-American-origin invasive-species agricultural-pest
Aulacaspis yasumatsui
cycad aulacaspis scale, cycad scale, sago palm scale, Asian cycad scale
Aulacaspis yasumatsui is a highly destructive armored scale insect native to Southeast Asia that has become a globally invasive pest of cycads. First described from Thailand in 1977, it was detected in Florida in 1996 and has since spread to numerous countries across six continents, causing widespread mortality of ornamental and native cycad populations. The species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism in body form and produces multiple generations annually in warm climates, with populations capable of reaching densities that completely encrust host fronds and ultimately kill the plant through depletion of photosynthetic tissue and nonstructural carbohydrates.
invasive-species pest scale-insect cycad Sternorrhyncha Diaspididae horticultural-pest biological-control conservation-threat
Bactericera
psyllid bugs, jumping plant lice
Bactericera is a genus of psyllid bugs (family Triozidae) established by Auguste Puton in 1876. The genus is predominantly distributed in the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions, with 24 recognized species in North America north of Mexico. Members are small phloem-feeding insects commonly known as "jumping plant lice." The genus includes economically significant agricultural pests, most notably Bactericera cockerelli (potato/tomato psyllid), which transmits the bacterial pathogen 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' causing zebra chip disease in potatoes.
Psylloidea Triozidae Sternorrhyncha agricultural-pest disease-vector phloem-feeder zebra-chip potato-psyllid tomato-psyllid jumping-plant-lice Palaearctic Nearctic invasive-species quarantine-pest
Bactericera cockerelli
potato psyllid, tomato psyllid, tomato/potato psyllid
Bactericera cockerelli, commonly known as the potato psyllid or tomato psyllid, is a phloem-feeding insect native to southern North America. It is a major agricultural pest of solanaceous crops, particularly potatoes and tomatoes, causing direct feeding damage and transmitting the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, which causes zebra chip disease in potatoes and psyllid yellows in other hosts. The species has expanded its range northward and has been introduced to New Zealand, where it causes significant economic damage to protected and outdoor crops.
agricultural-pest disease-vector phloem-feeder solanaceae zebra-chip invasive-species quarantine-pest
Bactrocera
fruit flies
Bactrocera is a large genus of tephritid fruit flies comprising approximately 500 described species. The genus name derives from Ancient Greek 'bakter' (rod) and 'kera' (horn). Many species are economically significant agricultural pests that infest fruits and vegetables. The genus underwent major taxonomic revision in 2015 when Zeugodacus was split from Bactrocera based on DNA evidence.
agricultural-pest fruit-fly quarantine-pest invasive-species Tephritidae Dacinae Dacini Zeugodacus-split-2015 male-annihilation-technique integrated-pest-management
Bagrada hilaris
Bagrada bug, Painted bug
Bagrada hilaris is an invasive shield bug native to Africa and Asia that has become a significant agricultural pest in North America, South America, and Europe. First detected in the Western Hemisphere in Los Angeles in 2008, it has since spread throughout California, Arizona, and other southwestern states, as well as establishing in Chile and Italy. The species is a major pest of Brassicaceae crops including cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower, causing damage through sap-sucking by both adults and nymphs. Its rapid spread and broad host range have made it a priority for integrated pest management research.
invasive-species agricultural-pest Brassicaceae-pest shield-bug pentatomid biological-control-target
Balcha
Balcha is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Eupelmidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). The genus comprises 16 described species worldwide, including eight newly described species and two newly combined species. Members are ectoparasitoids of wood-boring beetles, with Balcha indica notable as an accidental introduction to North America where it attacks the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).
parasitoid biological-control emerald-ash-borer invasive-species thelytokous-parthenogenesis ectoparasitoid wood-boring-beetles ash-trees
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.
parasitoid biological-control emerald-ash-borer invasive-species wood-boring-beetle thelytoky adventitious-parasitoid Asia-native North-America-introduced Eupelmidae Calosotinae
Balclutha jafara
Balclutha jafara is a leafhopper species native to Africa that was introduced to the Western Hemisphere by 2019. First detected in southern Florida in 2020 and in Colombian shipments entering the United States in 2019, it was previously known only from the Seychelles and Aldabra Islands. The species has since been documented across a broader African range including Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Molecular analysis using COI barcodes confirmed its identity and revealed connections between populations on multiple continents.
leafhopper invasive-species agricultural-pest rice biosecurity COI-barcode Florida Africa Seychelles Colombia Poaceae Oryza-sativa Cicadellidae Deltocephalinae Macrostelini introduced-species integrative-taxonomy molecular-identification Zootaxa-5361.4.4 Webb-1980
Bedellia
morning-glory leaf miner
Bedellia is the sole genus of the family Bedelliidae, a group of small, narrow-winged moths. Most authorities recognize Bedelliidae as a distinct family, though some classifications treat it as the subfamily Bedelliinae within Lyonetiidae. The genus contains several species, with Bedellia somnulentella (the sweet potato leafminer) being the most economically significant. This species is an invasive pest of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and related Convolvulaceae, with larvae feeding as leafminers in the leaf mesophyll.
leafminer agricultural-pest sweet-potato-pest microlepidoptera invasive-species Convolvulaceae-specialist
Bedellia somnulentella
sweet potato leaf miner, morning-glory leafminer moth
Bedellia somnulentella is a microlepidopteran leaf-mining moth in the family Bedelliidae, native to Asia and now nearly cosmopolitan in distribution. It is a significant agricultural pest of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and related Convolvulaceae, with larvae feeding on leaf mesophyll and reducing photosynthetic capacity. The species has expanded its range through association with cultivated crops and maintains populations on wild Ipomoea species during off-season periods. It has been documented across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.
agricultural-pest leaf-miner invasive-species sweet-potato-pest cosmopolitan-distribution microlepidoptera