Invasive-species
Guides
Frankliniella occidentalis
Western Flower Thrips, alfalfa thrips, California thrips
Frankliniella occidentalis, the western flower thrips, is a minute insect native to the southwestern United States that has become a globally significant agricultural pest. Adults measure approximately 1.5 mm in length. The species feeds on plant fluids by piercing and sucking, causing direct damage to hundreds of host species including tomatoes, grapes, strawberries, soybeans, and ornamentals. Its economic impact is compounded by its role as the principal vector of Tomato spotted wilt virus and other tospoviruses, which cause billions of dollars in annual crop losses worldwide. The species exhibits arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, where unfertilized females produce haploid males. It has demonstrated high resistance to pesticides and has spread to Europe, Australia, South America, Asia, and Africa through transport of infested plant material.
Fulgoridae
lanternflies, lanthorn flies
Fulgoridae is a large family of planthoppers within the order Hemiptera, containing over 125 genera worldwide with exceptional diversity in tropical regions. Members range from moderate to large size and often exhibit brilliant, varied coloration that superficially resembles Lepidoptera. The family is commonly known as "lanternflies," a name derived from the historical misconception that the elongated head processes of some species could produce light. These insects possess piercing-sucking mouthparts adapted for feeding on plant phloem sap.
Fulgoromorpha
planthoppers
Fulgoromorpha is an infraorder of Hemiptera containing over 12,500 described species worldwide, commonly known as planthoppers. These insects are characterized by plant-feeding habits using piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract phloem sap. The group exhibits remarkable morphological diversity, including elaborate head ornamentation in some families such as Fulgoridae. Planthoppers are distributed globally across terrestrial ecosystems, with particularly high diversity in tropical regions. While most species are not economically significant, some have emerged as serious agricultural pests, notably the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in North America.
Glycaspis brimblecombei
Red Gum Lerp Psyllid
Glycaspis brimblecombei, the Red Gum Lerp Psyllid, is an invasive sap-sucking insect native to Australia that has become a significant pest of Eucalyptus plantations worldwide. First described by Moore in 1964, this psyllid has spread to North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, causing substantial damage to forestry productivity. Nymphs construct protective sugary coverings called lerps while feeding on leaf phloem, and their multivoltine life cycle enables rapid population growth. The species is a major target for biological control efforts using parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogenic fungi.
Gnathotrichus
ambrosia beetles
Gnathotrichus is a genus of ambrosia beetles in the family Curculionidae containing at least 40 described species. Species in this genus cultivate fungal symbionts in wood galleries and are primarily associated with coniferous hosts. Several species have been studied for their pheromone-mediated aggregation behavior, with males producing species-specific attractants. The genus includes both native and invasive species, with Gnathotrichus materiarius established in Europe since the 1930s.
Gnathotrichus materiarius
American utilizable wood bark beetle
Gnathotrichus materiarius is an ambrosia beetle native to North America that has been introduced to Europe, where it was first detected in France in 1933. It excavates galleries in coniferous sapwood and maintains an obligate symbiosis with the fungus Endomycopsis fasciculata, which adults inoculate into wood and which serves as the primary food source for both larvae and adults. In Central Europe, it completes two generations per year, with adult flight beginning in early May and F2 generation adults overwintering in wood. Despite nearly a century of presence in Europe and its association with economically important conifers including Picea and Pinus, it has not caused significant damage, functioning primarily as a secondary pest of decaying or previously infested trees.
Gonipterus
Eucalyptus Weevils, Eucalyptus Snout Beetles, Eucalyptus Snout Weevils
Gonipterus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, comprising approximately 20 described species native primarily to Australia. These insects are obligate plant feeders, with many species exhibiting high host specificity. Several species, notably Gonipterus platensis, G. pulverulentus, and G. gibberus, have become significant pests of Eucalyptus plantations globally, having spread to regions where these trees have been introduced. Taxonomic confusion has historically plagued the genus, with DNA studies in 2012 clarifying that populations previously identified as G. scutellatus in New Zealand, North America, western Europe, Africa, and eastern Europe actually represent distinct species. The genus has substantial economic importance in forestry, driving research into biological control agents such as the egg parasitoid Anaphes nitens.
Gonocephalum
Dusty Surface Beetles, false wireworms
Gonocephalum is a large genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) comprising over 350 described species with worldwide distribution on every continent except Antarctica. Commonly known as 'Dusty Surface Beetles' or 'false wireworms,' members of this genus are characterized by elongated bodies and the ecological habit of sheltering under stones, fallen leaves, or debris. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly in Australia where they damage seedling field crops including sorghum, sunflower, soybeans, and mungbeans. The genus serves as host for various parasites including microsporidians, haplosporidians, and mites.
Gracillariidae
Leaf Blotch Miner Moths, Leaf Miner Moths
Gracillariidae is a large family of small moths in the order Lepidoptera, comprising approximately 98 described genera and many undescribed tropical species. Adults are typically diminutive with wingspans of 5–20 mm. The family is best known as the principal group of leaf-mining moths, with larvae that feed internally within leaf tissue. Several species are economically significant agricultural and horticultural pests, including the invasive horse-chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella). The family has a fossil record extending to 97 million years ago, with Phyllocnistinae leaf mines preserved in Cretaceous rocks.
Graphocephala fennahi
rhododendron leafhopper
Graphocephala fennahi, commonly known as the rhododendron leafhopper, is a colorful leafhopper species native to the southeastern United States. Adults measure 8–10 mm in length, with males slightly smaller than females. The species exhibits striking coloration: green wings with purple tips featuring two orange stripes, yellow head and legs, and a purple stripe across the head extending over the eyes. Introduced to Great Britain in the 1930s and continental Europe in the 1970s, it has established populations in urban and ornamental settings. The species feeds exclusively on rhododendron sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Gryllacrididae
raspy crickets, leaf-rolling crickets
Gryllacrididae is a family of non-jumping orthopterans in the suborder Ensifera, commonly known as raspy crickets or leaf-rolling crickets. The family occurs worldwide and contains over 600 species across more than 90 genera, organized into two subfamilies: Gryllacridinae and Hyperbaeninae. Members are distinguished by their unique ability to produce silk independently from other insects, which they use to construct shelters from folded leaves or to seal burrows in soil, sand, or wood. Historically, the family was broadly defined to include Stenopelmatidae and Rhaphidophoridae, which are now recognized as separate families.
Gryllidea
crickets
Gryllidea is an infraorder within the suborder Ensifera comprising crickets and their relatives. The group contains two superfamilies—Grylloidea (true crickets, tree crickets, scaly crickets, and allies) and Gryllotalpoidea (mole crickets and ant crickets)—encompassing more than 6,000 described species globally. Members are characterized by acoustic communication through stridulation, with males producing species-specific songs to attract mates. The infraorder originated in the Triassic period approximately 250–200 million years ago and represents the third most diverse group within Orthoptera.
cricketsOrthopteraEnsiferaacoustic-communicationstridulationmole-cricketsant-cricketsmyrmecophilybioacousticsedible-insectsagricultural-pesthousehold-pestTriassic-originhemimetabolous-developmentkleptoparasitismchemical-mimicryautotomythigmotaxisinvasive-speciesDiestrammena-asynamoraAcheta-domesticusGryllodes-sigillatusGryllus-firmusParagordius-variushost-parasite-interactionsmitochondrial-genomicspositive-selectioncox1Nearctic-faunaYunnan-biodiversityurban-ecologysoil-ecosystem-engineeringdecomposerfood-securityalternative-proteinGynaikothrips
fig thrips, gall thrips, leaf-rolling thrips
Gynaikothrips is a genus of tube-tailed thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, containing more than 30 described species. Members are gall-inducing insects primarily associated with Ficus species (fig trees), causing leaf folding and gall formation. Several species are economically significant pests of ornamental ficus in tropical and subtropical regions, with some having established invasive populations in North America and other regions. The genus is characterized by its intimate host relationship with fig trees and distinctive leaf-gall biology.
Hadroplontus litura
Canada thistle stem weevil, minute seed weevil
Hadroplontus litura is a stem-mining weevil in the family Curculionidae, widely known as the Canada thistle stem weevil. It is an endophagous herbivore that develops within the stems of its host plants. The species has been investigated extensively as a biological control agent for the invasive weed Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). Research indicates it can complete its life cycle on multiple Cirsium species, including five native thistle species in the upper Midwest of North America, raising concerns about non-target impacts on native flora.
Haemaphysalis
Haemaphysalis is the second largest genus of hard ticks (family Ixodidae), comprising approximately 170 species distributed across all continents except Antarctica. The genus is distinguished by morphological features including lateral salience on palpal article II and eyeless adults with short mouthparts. Most species parasitize birds and mammals, with highest diversity concentrated in the Oriental and Afrotropical regions. The Asian longhorned tick (H. longicornis) has emerged as a significant invasive species in North America since 2017.
Haemaphysalis longicornis
Asian longhorned tick, longhorned tick, bush tick, cattle tick, Asian tick
Haemaphysalis longicornis is an invasive three-host tick native to temperate East Asia that has established populations in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and the United States. First detected in New Jersey in 2017, it has since spread to at least 19 U.S. states. The species exhibits facultative parthenogenesis, with all-female populations documented in northern Japan, Russia, and the U.S. It is a significant veterinary pest of livestock, particularly cattle, and has been shown to transmit multiple pathogens to animals. While associated with various human tick-borne diseases in its native range, human pathogen transmission has not been confirmed in North America.
Halyomorpha halys
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, BMSB
Halyomorpha halys is an invasive shield bug native to East Asia that has become a major agricultural and nuisance pest across North America, Europe, and beyond. First detected in Pennsylvania in 1998, it has spread to at least 47 U.S. states, 4 Canadian provinces, and numerous European countries. The species is highly polyphagous, feeding on over 300 plant species across 49 families, with particular preference for Rosaceae. Its invasion success is facilitated by high mobility, broad host range, and absence of natural enemies in invaded ranges. Natural control is emerging through adventive populations of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus and other native predators and pathogens.
Harmonia
Greater Lady Beetles
Harmonia is a genus of lady beetles (family Coccinellidae) commonly known as Greater Lady Beetles. The genus includes the widely introduced Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis), which has become established across North America and other regions as a biological control agent for aphids and other soft-bodied pests. Members of this genus are predatory beetles with highly variable coloration and spot patterns. The genus is native to Asia, with some species now distributed globally due to intentional introductions for pest management.
Harmonia axyridis
harlequin ladybird, multicolored Asian lady beetle, Asian lady beetle, Halloween beetle
Harmonia axyridis is a highly variable coccinellid beetle native to eastern Asia, introduced to North America and Europe beginning in 1916 for biological control of aphids and scale insects. It became established in the wild in North America around 1988 and has since spread across multiple continents, becoming one of the world's most invasive insects. The species exhibits exceptional color polymorphism, with forms ranging from orange-red with black spots to entirely black with red markings. It is now recognized as a significant threat to native ladybird populations through competition and intraguild predation, while also functioning as a household nuisance pest and occasional agricultural contaminant.
Heliozelidae
Shield-bearing Moths, Shield Bearer Moths
Heliozelidae are a family of small, primitive monotrysian moths in the order Lepidoptera. Adults are typically metallic, day-flying moths with shiny smooth heads and wingspans of 4–5 mm. Larvae are specialized leaf miners that feed between leaf epidermises, creating distinctive blotch or serpentine mines. A defining family trait is the larval habit of cutting oval shield-like cases from the mined leaf tissue, which are used for pupation; these shields are attached by silk to bark, leaves, twigs, or other substrates. The family has gained attention due to several invasive species that have expanded their ranges, particularly in Europe.
Hemigrapsus sanguineus
Asian shore crab, Japanese shore crab
Hemigrapsus sanguineus is a small intertidal crab native to the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It has become a highly successful invasive species in North America and Europe, first detected in New Jersey in 1988. The species exhibits broad physiological tolerance, thriving across wide ranges of salinity and temperature. Its rapid population growth and competitive superiority over native crabs have raised significant ecological concerns, though habitat specificity for complex rocky shorelines may limit its impact in some systems.
Hercinothrips
Hercinothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, subfamily Panchaetothripinae, containing several economically significant pest species. The most widely documented species, H. femoralis (banded greenhouse thrips), is a pantropical invader that has established in greenhouses worldwide and feeds on a broad range of vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants. Members of this genus are characterized by their small size, fringed wings, and piercing-sucking mouthparts that cause characteristic silvery streaking and discoloration on host foliage.
Hercinothrips femoralis
Banded Greenhouse Thrips
Hercinothrips femoralis is a pantropical thrips species and significant agricultural pest known as the banded greenhouse thrips. It infests a wide range of crops including bananas, cotton, pineapple, sugar beet, sugar cane, and ornamentals, causing characteristic silver streaking and discoloration of leaf tissue through its piercing-sucking feeding. The species exhibits remarkable phenotypic plasticity with a "phenotype explosion" phenomenon—multiple color morphs and forms that facilitate successful colonization of new regions. Under laboratory conditions at 25°C, it completes development from egg to adult in approximately 21 days with high fecundity (averaging 133 offspring per female), enabling rapid population growth in greenhouses.
Heterotermitidae
Typical Subterranean Termites, Subterranean Termites
Heterotermitidae, commonly known as subterranean termites, is a family of termites elevated from subfamily Heterotermitinae (formerly in Rhinotermitidae) based on 2024 cladistic analyses. The family is sister to Termitidae, together forming the clade Geoisoptera. It includes economically significant genera Reticulitermes, Heterotermes, and Coptotermes, with C. formosanus alone causing over $2.2 billion in annual damages in the United States. Members forage through soil and construct mud tubes to access wood resources.
Hishimonus
Hishimonus is a genus of leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) established by Ishihara in 1953. Species in this genus are distributed across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, with particular diversity in the Indian subcontinent. Multiple Hishimonus species are economically significant as vectors of phytoplasma diseases affecting citrus, jujube, brinjal (eggplant), and other crops. H. phycitis transmits witches'-broom disease of lime and brinjal little leaf disease; H. hamatus transmits jujube witches' broom; and H. sellatus transmits Rhus yellows. Several species have been introduced to Europe, including H. diffractus and H. hamatus.
Homalodisca
sharpshooters
Homalodisca is a genus of large leafhoppers (sharpshooters) in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini. The genus contains approximately 18 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. The most economically significant species is Homalodisca vitripennis (formerly H. coagulata), commonly known as the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a major agricultural pest and vector of Xylella fastidiosa bacteria causing Pierce's disease in grapevines and other plant diseases. Members of this genus are characterized by their relatively large size among leafhoppers, xylem-feeding habits, and strong flight capabilities.
Hyadaphis tataricae
Honeysuckle aphid
Hyadaphis tataricae is a European aphid species introduced to North America, first recorded in Quebec, Canada, and subsequently found in the north-central United States. It is a significant pest of ornamental honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), causing distinctive witches'-brooming deformation of growing tips. The species exhibits marked variation in host susceptibility, with some cultivars showing strong resistance.
Hyblaeidae
teak moths
Hyblaeidae is a family of moths containing approximately 18 species across two genera: Hyblaea (Old World tropics) and Torone (Neotropics). The family's phylogenetic position within Lepidoptera remains uncertain, with studies placing Hyblaeoidea as sister to Pyraloidea or alternatively grouping with Thyridoidea or butterflies. Males possess a specialized 'hair-pencil' on the hindleg. The family is economically significant due to Hyblaea puera, a major defoliator of teak and mangrove species.
Hydrotaea aenescens
black dump fly, black garbage fly, dump fly
Hydrotaea aenescens, commonly known as the black dump fly or black garbage fly, is a muscid fly native to the New World that has become invasive in Europe. The species is notable for its predatory larvae that feed on house fly (Musca domestica) larvae, making it a candidate for biological control programs in livestock facilities. Adults have been documented as vectors of human botfly eggs. The species exhibits rapid range expansion in Europe, with records extending to the Far North of European Russia.
Hylaeus hyalinatus
Hairy masked bee
Hylaeus hyalinatus is a species of masked bee in the family Colletidae. It is native to Europe, including Great Britain, and has been introduced to North America where it is considered invasive. Like other members of genus Hylaeus, it is nearly hairless and wasp-like in appearance, with females transporting pollen and nectar internally rather than on body hairs.
Hylastini
Hylastini is a tribe of bark and ambrosia beetles within the subfamily Scolytinae. These beetles are primarily associated with coniferous host plants across multiple families. The tribe is of significant economic importance due to its role as a forest pest and its potential for international spread through trade in wood products.
Hylastinus
clover root borer (for H. obscurus)
A genus of crenulate bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) comprising approximately 11 described species. The genus is best known through Hylastinus obscurus, the clover root borer, which has been extensively studied due to its status as a major agricultural pest of red clover (Trifolium pratense). Members develop in roots of leguminous plants, with larvae creating short galleries in root tissues. The genus has a Palearctic native distribution but H. obscurus has been introduced to North and South America where it causes significant crop damage.
Hyloniscus riparius
Riparian Woodlouse
A small woodlouse native to Central and Eastern Europe that has established invasive populations in North America since 1951 and is expanding eastward across Russia. It thrives in floodplain environments and can survive prolonged submersion. In invaded regions, it reaches high densities and may dominate local woodlice communities, potentially displacing native species.
Hylotrupes bajulus
House Longhorn Beetle, Old House Borer, European House Borer
Hylotrupes bajulus is a woodboring beetle and the sole species in its genus. Native to Europe, it has spread globally through timber trade to become practically cosmopolitan. It is a significant pest of structural timber, particularly dry coniferous sapwood. Sexually mature females produce a species-specific sex pheromone that attracts males from short distances.
Hylurgus
red-haired bark beetles
Hylurgus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae. The genus includes economically significant forestry pests, most notably Hylurgus ligniperda (red-haired bark beetle), which is native to Eurasia and has established invasive populations on multiple continents. Species in this genus are associated with coniferous hosts, particularly Pinus species, and maintain complex symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria that facilitate host colonization and environmental adaptation.
Hylurgus ligniperda
Goldenhaired Bark Beetle, Red-haired Bark Beetle
Hylurgus ligniperda is an invasive bark beetle native to Europe that has established populations across multiple continents. It is a significant forest pest primarily associated with pine trees (Pinus spp.), where it colonizes roots and lower trunk sections. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in acoustic communication: males produce stridulatory sounds during courtship and disturbance, while females are silent. Its invasion success is facilitated by symbiotic relationships with ophiostomatoid fungi and diverse bacterial communities that assist with host adaptation, detoxification of plant secondary metabolites, and tolerance to environmental temperature fluctuations.
Hyphantria
fall webworm moths
Hyphantria is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, established by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. The genus contains approximately five species, with Hyphantria cunea (fall webworm) being the most widely known due to its economic and ecological significance. Species in this genus are primarily native to North and Central America, though H. cunea has been accidentally introduced to Europe and Asia, where it has become a significant invasive pest. The genus is characterized by larvae that construct communal silk webs for feeding and protection.
Hyphantria cunea
Fall Webworm, Fall Webworm Moth, American White Moth
The fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is a moth native to North America, ranging from southern Canada through the United States to northern Mexico. It is best known for its larval stage, in which caterpillars construct large silken webs on the terminal branches of host trees during late summer and fall. The species exhibits two color races that vary geographically: white moths with black-headed caterpillars predominate in northern populations, while spotted moths with red-headed caterpillars are more common in the south. Accidentally introduced to Hungary in the 1940s, it has become a destructive invasive pest across Europe and Asia, particularly in China where it is known as the 'North American White Moth.'
defoliatorweb-forming-caterpillarinvasive-speciesnative-pestpolyphagousfreeze-avoiderthermoregulationbiological-control-targethazelnut-pestmulberry-pesturban-pestornamental-pestforest-pestagricultural-pestgregarious-larvaesilken-webNorth-American-nativeEuropean-invasiveAsian-invasiveviral-biocontrolparasitoid-hosthyperparasitismHypothenemus
Hypothenemus is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae containing more than 200 described species. The genus is most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with reduced representation in temperate areas of eastern North America and eastern Asia. Members are minute beetles, ranging from 0.6 mm to 2.2 mm in length, with males consistently smaller than females. The genus includes several economically significant species, most notably H. hampei (coffee berry borer), which is considered the most destructive insect pest of coffee globally.
Icerya
Cushion Scale Insects
Icerya is a genus of scale insects in the family Monophlebidae, notable for containing some of the few hermaphroditic insects known to science. The genus includes approximately 50 described species distributed worldwide, with several species being significant agricultural pests. The most economically important species is Icerya purchasi (cottony cushion scale), native to Australia but now cosmopolitan in distribution, which has caused severe damage to citrus crops globally. Several Icerya species exhibit androdioecy—a rare mating system where hermaphrodites and males coexist—with hermaphrodites possessing ovotestes and reproducing primarily through self-fertilization. This reproductive strategy, combined with the sessile nature of adult females, contributes to their invasive potential. The genus is named after physician-naturalist Dr. Edmond Icery of British Mauritius.
Icerya purchasi
cottony cushion scale, fluted scale, cochinilla australiana
Icerya purchasi is a scale insect native to Australia that has become a globally distributed pest of citrus and ornamental plants. The species is notable for its distinctive reproductive system: most individuals are hermaphrodites capable of self-fertilization, with rare males enabling occasional outbreeding. Adult females are sessile and produce large white fluted egg sacs that can exceed twice the body length. The species achieved historical significance as the target of one of the first successful biological control programs, using the vedalia beetle (Novius cardinalis) in California in 1888–1889.
Illinoia
Illinoia is a genus of aphids (Aphididae: Aphidinae: Macrosiphini) established by Wilson in 1910. The genus contains multiple economically and ecologically significant species, including the tuliptree aphid (I. liriodendri), a notable pest of ornamental Liriodendron tulipifera, and the blueberry aphid (I. pepperi). Species in this genus are phloem-feeding insects associated with specific host plants, with some having become invasive outside their native ranges.
Illinoia liriodendri
tuliptree aphid, tulip tree aphid
Illinoia liriodendri is a sap-feeding aphid native to eastern North America that specializes on tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera). It has become an invasive pest in Europe, where it was first recorded in the early 2000s and has since spread to multiple countries. The species exhibits a monoecic-holocyclic life cycle, with peak populations occurring in late spring. It is considered the most significant insect pest of tuliptree in urban landscapes, capable of reaching high densities that produce substantial honeydew and impact young trees.
Ips grandicollis
eastern five-spined engraver, eastern five-spined ips, southern pine engraver, fivespined engraver
Ips grandicollis is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae, commonly known as the eastern five-spined engraver or southern pine engraver. The species is native to North America and has been introduced to Australia. It primarily colonizes Pinus species, attacking weakened, stressed, or recently felled trees rather than healthy standing timber. Males initiate gallery construction and produce aggregation pheromones to attract multiple females. The species has reached economic importance in some regions, including Jamaican pine plantations, where it can kill trees when populations aggregate on living hosts.
Iris oratoria
Mediterranean mantis, iris mantis
Iris oratoria, commonly called the Mediterranean mantis, is a medium-sized praying mantis species native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. The species has been introduced to the southwestern United States, where it was first recorded in southern California in the 1930s and continues to expand its range. Adults reach approximately 6.5 cm in length and are distinguished by violet-brown eyespots on the hindwings that are displayed during threat responses. The species exhibits facultative parthenogenesis and delayed emergence from oothecae as adaptations that may contribute to its invasive success.
Ischnodemus variegatus
myakka bug
Ischnodemus variegatus, commonly known as the myakka bug, is a true bug in the family Blissidae native to Central and South America. The species was first recorded in Florida in 2000, where it was discovered feeding on the invasive West Indian marsh grass (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) in Myakka River State Park. It has been extensively studied as a potential biological control agent for this invasive wetland weed due to its high host specificity. The bug is small, with females reaching about 7 mm and males about 6 mm in length, and produces a noxious scent when disturbed.
Isodontia
Grass-carrying Wasps, Grass-carrier Wasps
Isodontia is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Sphecidae, commonly known as grass-carrying wasps. Females construct nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems, window tracks, or abandoned beetle tunnels, lining them with dry grass or hay. They provision nests with paralyzed Orthoptera (tree crickets and katydids) as food for their larvae. Several species are invasive in Europe, with Isodontia mexicana being the most widespread non-native species.
Isodontia mexicana
Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp, Grass-carrying Wasp
Isodontia mexicana is a solitary sphecid wasp native to North America that has become a successful invasive species in Europe since the 1960s. Females construct nests in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems, abandoned beetle tunnels, or even window tracks, lining them with grass fragments. They provision nests with paralyzed orthopteran prey—primarily small katydids (Tettigoniidae) and tree crickets (Gryllidae, particularly Oecanthinae)—to feed their larvae. The species is notable for its splayed wing posture at rest and has been observed visiting diverse flowering plants for nectar.
Klambothrips
Klambothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, established by Mound and Morris in 2007. The genus includes at least one notable invasive species, Klambothrips myopori, which has been extensively studied in California. This species is a specialist herbivore on plants in the genus Myoporum and has become a significant pest of ornamental plantings in urban landscapes.
Klambothrips myopori
Naio Thrips
Klambothrips myopori is a gall-forming thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, described by Mound and Morris in 2007. Native to Australia and New Zealand, it invaded California in 2005 and has since become established in Hawaii and the contiguous United States. The species is obligately associated with Myoporum host plants, inducing galls on foliage. It has emerged as a significant pest of ornamental plantings in California, with documented variation in host plant suitability across different Myoporum cultivars.