Identify & Report Invasive Species
Table of Contents
Introduction
"Invasive species have two main characteristics: they are non-native (exotic/alien) to the ecosystem that they occupy, and their existence in that ecosystem causes or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment, or human health. If left unchecked, invasive species can threaten native species, biodiversity, ecosystem services, recreation, water resources, agricultural and forest production, cultural resources, economies and property values, public safety, and infrastructure."
According to a report from The Weather Channel, invasives may be driving as much as 60% of extinctions, while threatening our food supplies, spreading diseas, and costing $423 billion in costly damages.
What To Do About Invasives
In some cases, you can simply pull out invasive weeds, and put them through a chipper (this may help some invasives spread), into a compost (watch out for seeds!), a burn pile (which contributes to air pollution), and some may be appropriate for turning into plant fertilizer.
In some cases invasives can be fed to animals or even eaten by humans.
To learn more about why it can be extremely important to track, identify, and handle invasive species, please check out our Handle Invasive Species page.
Recipes for Invasives
Eat The Invaders This resource lists problematic invaders, and offers information like where the originated, and where they are considered invasive to help you decide if they need to be removed, as well as recipe suggestions. Most are animals, but there are also plants and even seaweed!
Words of Caution!
One drawback to finding uses for invasives is that it might promote people to retain or even purposeful raise/farm the invasives if they become too useful or popular.
It's also very important to identify a species correctly before handling, harming, or consuming it. Some species (especially plants and fungi!) may be poisonous, but look almost exactly like a non-deadly counterpart.
When extracting plants, be careful to remove as much root as possible, since aggressive plants can easily come back from even tiny root remnants.
Similarly it is best to destroy plants before they can seed. Sometimes handling the plant is enough help the seeds explode everywhere.
Some species such as hogweed are particularly dangerous. Causing serious pain, and dangerous sensitivity to sunlight.
Hogweed is One of Canada's Most Dangerous Plants, Here's What You Should Know
2:42 minute video explains that "If you touch the sap of giant hogweed, it could lead to 3rd-degree burns. That's why The Weather Network's Mark Robinson dons a hazmat suit to learn about how to remove Canada's most noxious weed."
Hogweed grows along trails or near water, and looks similar to Queen Ann's Lace.
Identify Invasives: Apps & Guides
The following include apps, local/regional guides, and some of the sites or apps also double as a way to report invasives, which may be important for scientists to track their progress through an area, or alert trained people who can come and safely handle the species in question.
International
Identifying Invasives
CABI: Compendium Invasive Species "Detailed coverage of invasive species threatening livelihoods and the environment worldwide"
CABI: Horizon Scanning Tool "is a decision support aid that helps you identify and categorize species that might enter a particular geographic area from another geographic area."
iNaturalist isn't focused on invasives, but they do have some sections devoted to tracking the presence and spread of invasives.
Pest Alerts "You can sign up to receive email alerts containing recent literature reports for a specific country or region, or recent literature reports from around the globe."
Scroll down to search by region, and please feel free to suggest any relevant apps or resources that have been missed.
Biocontrol Solutions for Invasives
BioProtection Portal "The CABI BioProtection Portal is the largest open access global database of biological plant protection products. Browse registered products..." These solutions include biological chemical solutions and organisms such as beneficial insects, fungi, etc.
Specific Species Apps & Guides
Fall Armyworm Portal "Find all useful resources about fall armyworm"
Africa
Ethiopia
These resources offer photos and guides for getting rid of invasives, including edible species, and species which can be turned into useful resources.
Related Information
This section includes infographics and articles about the social, economic, and environmental benefits of tackling invasive species in Ethiopia.
Kenya
These resources offer photos and guides for getting rid of invasives, including edible species, and species which can be turned into useful resources.
Controlling Pest Pear in Laikipia "Pastoralists in northern Kenya are heavily dependent on livestock. Their lives are being devastated by the non-native cactus Opuntia stricta. This weed has invaded the last good grazing land and when livestock and wildlife eat its fruits the spines can cause infection and death. Chemical and mechanical control methods are expensive and impractical, so we are helping to introduce a new sustainable method: a sap-sucking insect that feeds solely on the cactus."
Principles of Woody Weed Invasions and Management Strategies
Related Information
This section includes infographics and articles about the social, economic, and environmental benefits of tackling invasive species in Kenya.
Namibia
Atlas of Alien Plants "Several species of alien plants in Namibia pose a threat to the natural vegetation. Mapping these species and obtaining basic information on them is a first step in assessing the level of threat and how best to tackle the problem."
Nigeria
Invasive Alien Plant Species in Nigeria and Their Effects on Biodiversity Conservation This paper includes a list of invasive plants in the appendix at the bottom of the page.
Management of Invasive Species in Nigeria This guide lists some common invasive species, where they come from, how they spread, plus practical ways to use them. Some solutions include using them as building materials, food, or fuel.
Sudan
Tanzania
These resources offer photos and guides for getting rid of invasives, including edible species, and species which can be turned into useful resources.
Asia
Invasive Species ID Guide "This app is a companion to the printed Guide to the Naturalized and Invasive Plants of Southeast Asia." "The plants described in this Guide are all naturalized and/or invasive in one or more of the countries in the region such as Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It is by no means a complete Field Guide, only covering 55 introduced and problematic plant species. These species are also not necessarily all of the worst ‘offenders’ but have been included based on some literature reviews and feedback from project partners and others."
Nepal
Flora of Nepal / नेपालका वनस्पति : Invasive Aliens "Problematic invasive alien plants in Nepal" No images.
Europe
“Invasive Alien Species in Europe” App "This app is developed by the Joint Research Centre, the in-house science service of the European Commission. Its aim is to enable the general public (amateurs and professionals) to receive and share information about Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Europe." Además el Especies exóticas invasoras EU. E Specie Esotiche Invasive EU.
España / Spain
Life Invasaqua "En Europa, y particularmente en España y Portugal, el público, los responsables de la gestión y otros grupos clave relacionados con especies exóticas invasoras (EEI) tienen una comprensión sesgada de las amenazas y problemática planteada por estas EEI. Esto dificulta la movilización de sectores relevantes y otras partes interesadas para su gestión y control, especialmente con introducciones que no afectan la salud humana o a intereses económicos importantes. Las EEI y sus impactos no se conocen lo suficiente y se consideran con frecuencia con un escaso efecto socioeconómico.
El proyecto LIFE INVASAQUA (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515), financiado por el programa LIFE, tiene como principal objetivo apoyar la comunicación, la formación y la difusión de información sobre las Especies Exóticas Invasoras (EEI) acuáticas en España y Portugal."
Flatworms "The Obama Flatworm (Obama nungara) is a relatively recent introduction to the UK, originating from Brazil. This non-native flatworm is already a threat to agriculture across France, and was found in a pot plant at a garden centre in Oxfordshire in November 2016. It was first found in Europe on Guernsey in 2008, but has spread through France and into Spain and has now been discovered at a handful of locations in the UK."
France
Flatworms "The Obama Flatworm (Obama nungara) is a relatively recent introduction to the UK, originating from Brazil. This non-native flatworm is already a threat to agriculture across France, and was found in a pot plant at a garden centre in Oxfordshire in November 2016. It was first found in Europe on Guernsey in 2008, but has spread through France and into Spain and has now been discovered at a handful of locations in the UK."
Ireland
Report Invasive Plants Help fight alien plants invading Ireland – tracking app for iPhone and Android
Portugal
Life Invasaqua "En Europa, y particularmente en España y Portugal, el público, los responsables de la gestión y otros grupos clave relacionados con especies exóticas invasoras (EEI) tienen una comprensión sesgada de las amenazas y problemática planteada por estas EEI. Esto dificulta la movilización de sectores relevantes y otras partes interesadas para su gestión y control, especialmente con introducciones que no afectan la salud humana o a intereses económicos importantes. Las EEI y sus impactos no se conocen lo suficiente y se consideran con frecuencia con un escaso efecto socioeconómico.
El proyecto LIFE INVASAQUA (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515), financiado por el programa LIFE, tiene como principal objetivo apoyar la comunicación, la formación y la difusión de información sobre las Especies Exóticas Invasoras (EEI) acuáticas en España y Portugal."
UK
Asian Hornet Watch "is ... designed to record and help the early detection of Asian Hornet in the UK following the first confirmed record in September 2016. Asian Hornet is a non-native species within the UK and could have a serious impact on our insects including honeybees so early detection is important. There are a number of native insects in the UK that look very similar to the Asian Hornet, and are common and widespread. Asian Hornet Watch provides an identification guide to help check which species you have seen and an opportunity to record your sightings. Insect identification can be difficult and so please do include a photograph with your record to help us confirm the identity of the species you have seen." Also on the AppleStore.
iRecord: Enter Non-Native Species Records "Please enter the date and all the species you saw at one site on a single day and any other information about them."
Control Resources
Azolla Control "One of the UK’s most invasive plants, the fairy fern or floating water fern causes problems for anglers and water managers. It forms thick mats on the water’s surface which can double in size in a few days, blocking out light and killing aquatic flora and fish. Fragmentation of the fronds makes control by mechanical means virtually impossible. This project involves researching and testing the use of a 2mm-long North American weevil Stenopelmus rufinasus as an agent to control the weed naturally."
Flatworms This page discuses and offers photos of several invasive worm species found in the UK including Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Isles of Scilly.
Northern Ireland
CEDaR (Center for Environmental Data and Recording) Online Recording Click the link to see what projects are available. They have specific links for Owls, Butterflies, Marine, Invasive Species, Lady Birds and more! Some of the links will take you to projects for specific regions including the Ring of Gullion and Belfast Hills.
North America
This selection includes apps that help Canada, the USA, and some also include locations such as Mexico, Central America and US territories. Scroll down further for Canada or US-specific apps and resources.
Don'tMoveFireWood "Transporting firewood long distances can spread harmful forest pests. ... U.S. Customs and Border Protection encourages campers to burn firewood where you obtain it, and avoid moving unburned firewood." This resource includes a Firewood Map and page with various firewood finding options.
EDDMapS "is a web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species and pest distribution. It is fast, easy to use, and doesn't require Geographic Information Systems experience. Launched in 2005 by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia, it was originally designed as a tool for state Exotic Pest Plant Councils to develop more complete distribution data of invasive species. Since then, the program has expanded to include the entire US and Canada as well as to document certain native pest species."
iMapInvasives "Report your sightings of invasive species with your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device by choosing from the four different methods listed..."
Invasive and Exotic Species of North America "any species, including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species, that is not native to that ecosystem; and whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health."
Lionfish Patrol App "By gathering lionfish hunting data from your area (no GPS tracked), we can all find better solutions for removing lionfish more efficiently. Destinations that gather this simple data can catch more lionfish by understanding where they are likely to be. The more lionfish caught the safer the reefs become."
Mid-Atlantic EDN "MAEDN is a vast network of land managers, field experts, citizen scientists, naturalists, gardeners and others interested in documenting invasive plant occurrences in the Mid-Atlantic region for the purposes of early detection, improved management and better coordination. The region includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia."
USGS: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) information resource for the United States Geological Survey. Located at Gainesville, Florida, this site has been established as a central repository for spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of introduced aquatic species. The program provides scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, distribution maps, and general information. The data are made available for use by biologists, interagency groups, and the general public. The geographical coverage is the United States.
Wild Spotter "Engaging and empowering the public to help find, map, and prevent invasive species in America's wilderness areas, wild rivers, and other natural areas. Become a Wild Spotter citizen scientist volunteer, download the Mobile App, and help protect America's Wild Places!"
Canada
Report Invasives app lets "you report invasive species sightings anywhere in BC, in a few quick and easy steps. Your report goes directly to a BC specialist for the reported species who will then coordinate follow-up activities with appropriate authorities when required."
Caribbean
Not apps but other resources:
Prevent Invasives in the Caribbean "We are scientists; national; regional and international organisations in a collaborative effort to address the issue of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in the Caribbean."
U.S. Virgin Islands Least Wanted Invasive Exotic Species (PDF) Informational package includes explanations of terminology, why invasives are important to combat, and coloured photos of invasives to help local activists, gardeners, and grounds keepers identify and remove these problematic species.
Central America
Lionfish Patrol App "By gathering lionfish hunting data from your area (no GPS tracked), we can all find better solutions for removing lionfish more efficiently. Destinations that gather this simple data can catch more lionfish by understanding where they are likely to be. The more lionfish caught the safer the reefs become."
No Mueva La Leña "Si mueves leña, puedes accidentalmente trasladar contigo plagas, insectos y enfermedades que matan a los árboles. Asegúrate de comprar leña donde la vas a quemar, y no la traigas contigo. Cuando vayas de viaje, de camping, de cacería o de pesca, protege a los bosques y a los árboles usando leña local.
Mientras estés aquí, mira nuestra Mapa de leña o visita nuestra Preguntas Frecuentes. Encuentre nuestros recursos en español como carteles y folletos y mas." (Also in English)
USA
Coastal Restoration Toolkit: Invasive Species: Choose A Region Map By clicking the coastal region you need to focus on, the map will take you to an informational page with resources applicable to your state or region including identification guides and who to report invasives to in your area. Also includes resources for Great Lakes states.
Gulf & South Atlantic Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species "An effective, coordinated response to address the effects of such invasions is urgently needed and must be based on detailed knowledge of the biology and behavior of these species. The Gulf and South Atlantic Regional Panel (GSARP) helps to address this need for coordination in the southeast United States."
Invasives in Southern Forests "This app is based on the U.S. Forest Service publication: A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests. Invasions of nonnative plants into forests of the Southern United States continue to go unchecked and only partially unmonitored. These infestations increasingly erode forest productivity, hindering forest use and management activities, and degrading diversity and wildlife habitat. Often called nonnative, exotic, nonindigenous, alien, or noxious weeds, they occur as trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, ferns, and forbs. This app provides information on accurate identification of the 56 nonnative plants and groups that are currently invading the forests of the 13 Southern States."
The Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) "is a regional effort to develop and provide early detection and response resources for invasive species." "Our goal is to assist both experts and citizen scientists in the detection and identification of invasive species in support of successful management."
Southeast Early Detection Network "Submit invasive species observations directly with your smartphone from the field"
Arizona
Arizona Noxious Weeds "Plant Services Division. 2017. Regulated and Restricted Noxious Weeds. Arizona Department of Agriculture." List without images, click the names to see more info including photos.
The Arizona Native Plant Society: Invasive Plants list with photos
Explore Pinal County: Invasive Weeds includes photos, names, and other resources.
1:58 minute video about Stinknet or Stinkweed, and how to get rid of it, before it takes over Pheonix, Arizona.
Florida
FLIP 🌱"the Florida Invasive Plant species mobile field guide."
IveGot1 🌱"Identify and Report Invasive Animals and Plants in Florida"
Terrestrial Noxious Weeds of Florida: Field Guide 🌱 (PDF) "This guide includes plant species regulated as noxious weeds in Florida and known to grow here. Although the descriptions refer mainly to the adult plant, some information about seedlings is also provided. You can confirm a species name by sending a sample to DPI in Gainesville. Note: This guide does NOT include aquatic weeds."
Report Florida Lionfish app 🐟 "was developed by The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in order to raise awareness of the dangers facing Florida waters by lionfish. Lionfish are an invasive species that threaten Florida’s saltwater fish and wildlife. The FWC encourages people to remove lionfish in Florida waters to limit negative impacts to native fish and wildlife. Lionfish can be speared, caught in hand-held nets or caught on hook and line. The App has information about lionfish as well as the feature to take pictures and report sightings/harvests."
Exotic Pet Amnesty Program 🐍 🦎 🦧 "is an effort to reduce the number of nonnative pets released into the wild. Florida residents in possession of nonnative pet species face no legal penalties (regardless of the regulatory status of their pet) and do not pay any fees to surrender their pet through the program. Owners may surrender nonnative pets for any reason at any time. The FWC will facilitate the adoption process and make every effort to place the nonnative pet with an approved adopter."
Louisiana
Common Invasive Plants of Louisiana "The following invasives commonly occur in the state. For a complete list of invasive plants, see Section C, Chapter 6 of the Louisiana Wildlife Action Plan (LA WAP Chapter 6).
Orange links lead to individual pages for each species, where you will find suggestions for native plant alternatives as well as links to those native plants."
Good Weed Bad Weed? 🌱 "NPI's Good Weed/Bad Weed database – the only one specifically for volunteers found in the southeast Louisiana ecosystem – provides reliable information so that you can make an informed decision to keep, observe, move, or pull out a particular plant. The database contains species description, habitat, photos, and guidance on how to care for desirable species, eradicate undesirable ones, perhaps just observe others."
Massachusetts
Outsmart Invasives "The goal of the project is to strengthen ongoing invasive-species monitoring efforts in Massachusetts by enlisting help from citizens. The web- and smartphone-based approach enables volunteers to identify and collect data on invasive species in their own time, with little or no hands-on training."
Missouri
Missouri Invasive Plant Council 🌱 "making early detection and control of known and potential invasive plants a statewide priority"
New England
Texas
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: AquaPlant 🌊 🌱 "is designed to help land owners identify and manage plants in their ponds or tanks. To best manage your pond vegetation, start by using the Identify a Plant section to correctly identify the plants in your pond, and then select the best management options to fit your needs for specific plants from the Manage a Plant section. Whether you choose to use a herbicide, biological control, or to remove plants manually, this site can help."
Texas Invasives: Citizen Science "The Invaders of Texas Program is an innovative campaign whereby volunteer "citizen scientists" are trained to detect the arrival and dispersal of invasive species in their own local areas. That information is delivered into a statewide mapping database and to those who can do something about it. The premise is simple. The more trained eyes watching for invasive species, the better our chances of lessening or avoiding damage to our native landscape." You can report species sightings here.
Texas Invasive Species Coordination Committee: Official Noxious and Invasive Species Lists includes a variety of resources including an illustrated PDF and species bios with photo examples.
Washington
Washington Invasives "To submit a quality report, make sure to take a photograph, geo-tag the location, and leave your preferred method of contact so we may reach you with questions."
Oceana
Australia
Atlas of Living Australia: Create a Record Record a sighting.
BioCollect "is designed for scientists, ecologists, citizen scientists and natural resource managers to collect and manage their biodiversity, ecological and natural resource management (NRM) data. It is hosted by the ALA and is free for public use."
MyPestGuide "lets you quickly identify pests and report your observations instantly to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
By using the MyPestGuide app you will be supporting your local community, defending Western Australia’s agriculture industry and protecting the natural environment from unusual or suspected exotic pests..."
Not apps, but further resources & guides:
Assessing a Biocontrol Agent for Jatropha gossypiifolia "Jatropha gossypiifolia (bellyache bush) is a major invasive plant in northern Australia. Previous biocontrol efforts have focused on insects but the Australian Government is now also keen to explore fungal pathogens. As experts, CABI is carrying out safety and efficacy experiments with the rust pathogen Phakopsora jatrophicola using a strain originating from Trinidad. Results will help the Australian authorities decide whether this rust is suitable for biocontrol of J. gossypiifolia in Australia."
The Australian Biocontrol Hub Includes photos, maps, and other useful data about target species.
WeedsAustralia 🌱 "is designed to connect you with knowledge to make informed decisions about managing invasive weeds within Australia."
Fiji
Pacific Pests Pathogens Weeds "When crop pests and diseases occur, farmers want help and advice immediately. They don't want to wait and in many cases they cannot wait. Unless they act quickly, the crop could be ruined. This App gives extension staff and lead farmers all the information they need to treat the crop. If there is no way of saving a crop, the steps should help to prevent the problem occurring in the future."
New Zealand
Wilding Watch "allows users to see for themselves the spread of wilding conifers across the country and upload their own images to help identify new invasions across New Zealand,"
Samoa
Pacific Pests Pathogens Weeds "When crop pests and diseases occur, farmers want help and advice immediately. They don't want to wait and in many cases they cannot wait. Unless they act quickly, the crop could be ruined. This App gives extension staff and lead farmers all the information they need to treat the crop. If there is no way of saving a crop, the steps should help to prevent the problem occurring in the future."
Solomon Islands
Pacific Pests Pathogens Weeds "When crop pests and diseases occur, farmers want help and advice immediately. They don't want to wait and in many cases they cannot wait. Unless they act quickly, the crop could be ruined. This App gives extension staff and lead farmers all the information they need to treat the crop. If there is no way of saving a crop, the steps should help to prevent the problem occurring in the future."
Tonga
Pacific Pests Pathogens Weeds "When crop pests and diseases occur, farmers want help and advice immediately. They don't want to wait and in many cases they cannot wait. Unless they act quickly, the crop could be ruined. This App gives extension staff and lead farmers all the information they need to treat the crop. If there is no way of saving a crop, the steps should help to prevent the problem occurring in the future."
South America
Invasive Species in South America This wikipedia page lists some mammals and other invasives, where they are found, and the types of impact they can have.
Plant Invasions in South America This lists "Non-native plant species with the most records of naturalization in South American countries" their scientific names, how many countries they appear in, which ones, and what regions. The paper also talks about the laws and other protections against invasives.
Brazil
An Overview of Invasive Plants in Brazil (PDF) This paper lists some invasive species, and where they have been found in Brazil as well as how some where believed to get there.
Brazilian Jouranl of Botany An Overview of Invasive Plants in Brazil / Visão Geral das Plantas Exóticas Invasoras no Brasil this bilingual paper talks invasive species such as grasses which were imported for economic benefits, but have become problematic.
Perspectives on invasive amphibians in Brazil This paper includes names and photos of the invasive frogs in question.
Organizations
Click the Handle Invasive Species button to see a list of organizations who focus on this topic.
Maps
International
Fall Armyworm Portal "Find all useful resources about fall armyworm"
Pacific Oysters
This paper lists different ways people have tried to combat this invader without damaging the ecosystems they have invaded, and recommends This source offers a native vs invasive map of Pacific Oysters.
Europe
Alien CSI Bioblitz "a citizen science project to engage society in invasive species monitoring. Welcome to the second edition of the Alien CSI Bioblitz, a 3-days event across Europe! Join and help us to detect as many invasive alien species as possible!"
Grants & Funding
North America
USA
Minnesota
MWMO: Community Grants "are available for short-term or small-scale water quality projects. The grant amount may not exceed $5,000. No matching funds are required."