North-america-introduced
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.
Dienerella ruficollis
Red-necked plaster beetle
A small beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as the red-necked plaster beetle. This species is associated with damp, moldy environments and has been introduced to North America from Europe. It is frequently found in buildings and other human-modified habitats where fungal growth occurs.
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.
Geotrupes stercorarius
dor beetle, dumbledore, Common Dor Beetle
Geotrupes stercorarius is an earth-boring dung beetle in the family Geotrupidae, commonly known as the dor beetle or dumbledore. It is widespread throughout Europe and has been introduced to parts of North America. Adults are coprophagous, feeding primarily on the dung of herbivorous animals with a documented preference for horse dung. The species exhibits distinctive parental care behavior, with both sexes cooperating to construct deep burrows beneath dung and provision brood chambers for larval development.
Laricobius erichsonii
Laricobius erichsonii is a small predatory beetle in the family Derodontidae, native to Europe and the sole European representative of the genus. It has been introduced to North America as a biological control agent for the balsam woolly aphid (Adelges piceae), with releases in eastern Canada since 1933 and in Oregon and Washington from 1957–1960. The species is one of the more numerous predators of A. piceae in its native range. It belongs to the widespread Holarctic group within Laricobius, characterized by an elongate body and transverse, fully explanate pronotum.
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.
Melanostoma mellinum
Variable Duskyface Fly
Melanostoma mellinum is a widespread and abundant hoverfly species native to the Palearctic region, with introduced populations in North America. It is one of the most commonly recorded syrphid flies in Britain and Europe, frequently encountered in agricultural landscapes including vineyards, grasslands, and wetlands. The species has been studied for its response to landscape structure, showing increased abundance in areas with greater proportions of seminatural habitats.
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.
Platystethus degener
spiny-legged rove beetle
Platystethus degener is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, characterized by spiny legs. It is native to the Palearctic region, with established introduced populations in North America. The species was first described by Mulsant & Rey in 1878. Like other members of the genus Platystethus, it belongs to the subfamily Oxytelinae, a group known for their compact body form and association with decaying organic matter.
Poecilocrypticus formicophilus
Adventive Ant-loving Teneb
Poecilocrypticus formicophilus is a small tenebrionid beetle native to Europe, where it has been recorded in Belgium. The species has been introduced to North America and is now established across the conterminous United States. Its common name reflects its association with ant colonies, a relationship characteristic of the genus. The species is frequently documented on iNaturalist, suggesting it is readily encountered by observers.
Rhizedra lutosa
Large Wainscot, Isle of Wight Wainscot, Large Wainscot Moth
Rhizedra lutosa is a noctuid moth native to the Palearctic, ranging from Ireland to Japan. It has established populations in eastern North America following introduction. The species is notable for its subterranean larval habit, feeding on reed roots.
Rugilus angustatus
Rugilus angustatus is a rove beetle (Staphylinidae) native to Europe and western Asia, with established introduced populations in eastern North America. It is a moderately sized species within the diverse genus Rugilus, characterized by its elongate body form typical of the family. The species has been documented across a broad Palearctic range and has been observed in North American localities since at least the mid-20th century.
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.
Scrobipalpa
Scrobipalpa is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Janse in 1951. The genus contains over 100 described species distributed across Africa, Asia, Europe, and introduced populations in North America and Australasia. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, particularly of sugar beet, quinoa, tobacco, and eggplant. The genus was historically split with Euscrobipalpa treated as a subgenus or separate genus, but this distinction is no longer recognized as valid.
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.
Tipula paludosa
European crane fly, leatherjacket
Tipula paludosa is a crane fly species native to northwestern Europe that has become an invasive agricultural pest in North America. The larvae, known as leatherjackets, cause significant damage to lawns, pastures, and cereal crops by feeding on roots and underground stems. Adults are short-lived, do not feed, and are characterized by their long, thin legs and grayish-brown bodies. The species has a strictly annual life cycle with precise seasonal timing of each developmental stage.
Trichosirocalus horridus
Thistle Crown Weevil, Musk Thistle Crown Weevil
Trichosirocalus horridus is a Palearctic weevil introduced to North America in 1974 as a biological control agent for exotic thistles in the genera Cirsium and Carduus. Native to Europe, it has established populations across the United States, particularly in Virginia where it spread from 609 km² in 1981 to 4,345 km² by 1985. Adults feed on thistle rosettes while larvae develop internally in stems and crowns, causing significant damage to host plants. The species has shown nontarget impacts, feeding on native Cirsium species in Nebraska and Tennessee at rates comparable to target weeds.