Invasive Species

An adult spotted lanternfly

People Are ‘Hunting’ Invasive Spotted Lanternflies—and You Should, Too

Officials urge the public to squish the bugs, which are damaging crops and trees in the eastern U.S.

In Blaine, Washington, after the 2020 appearance of the two-inch long invasive species Vespa mandarinia (above: Washington State entomologist Chris Looney holds a native bald-faced hornet to compare it with the huge size of the invader), scientists worked to eradicate it.

Giant 'Murder' Hornet Has Landed at the Natural History Museum

After scientists studied the invasive insect, visitors are getting a first look at the fierce creature that could wreak havoc on U.S. agriculture

A green crab, Carcinus maenas

New Hampshire Distillery Makes Whiskey Out of Invasive Crabs

Each bottle uses about one pound of green crabs

The female python weighed 215 pounds and measured 18 feet long.

Florida Biologists Capture Record-Breaking 215-Pound Python

Invasive Burmese pythons are wreaking havoc on native wildlife and ecosystems in the Everglades

One reader wonders: Since purple dye was scarce, why didn’t people just combine blue and red?

Why Was Purple the Color of Royalty? And More Questions From Our Readers

You've got questions. We've got experts.

Fresh copi on ice

Can Rebranding Invasive Carp Make It More Appealing to Eat?

Illinois is giving the problematic fish a new name—copi—in hopes of tempting more diners to chow down

Goldfish, as voracious eaters, will devour snails, small insects, fish eggs, and young fish, out-competing native fish. They can also grow over a foot long outside in the wild. (Pictured: A 14-inch goldfish removed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from the Niagara River that flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario)

Though Cute as Pets, Goldfish Are Highly Invasive Once in the Wild

The animal’s insatiable appetites, bold behaviors and adaptability make them harmful to new environments

Salma brachyscopalis Hampson

U.S. Customs Agents Find Rare Moth Last Spotted in 1912

Larvae and pupae found in seed pods at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport last fall hatched into <em>Salma brachyscopalis Hampson</em> moths

Wild boars are causing major issues in Italy.

Wild Boars Are Ransacking Rome

The Italian government plans to cull the population after at least one animal tested positive for a contagious swine fever

Acid-spewing tawny crazy ants, formerly called raspberry crazy ants, have been spreading through the gulf coast in recent years.

A Killer Fungus Is Annihilating Invasive 'Crazy Ants' in the United States

Entomologists are hopeful the pathogen could slow the insects' spread through the country

Emerald ash borers are already predicted to kill all ash trees in more than 6,000 urban areas.

1.4 Million Urban Trees May Fall to Invasive Insects by 2050

It could cost 30 million a year to replace infected trees in areas hardest hit by the non-native species

Entomologists obtained and synthesized the pheromone by swabbing various virgin giant hornet queens captured in Yunnan, China.

Scientists Are Using Sex Pheromones to Lure in Murder Hornets

The method may be the best way to eliminate the insects from non-native habitats

Joro spiders are eye-catching, with bright yellow, blue and red coloration.

Large, Parachuting Spiders Could Soon Invade the East Coast, Study Finds

The authors say the arachnids are harmless to people and pets and may even eat pests like stink bugs

An adult spongy moth

Invasive Insect Gets a New Name: Spongy Moth

After removing the common name "gypsy moth," which contained a racial slur, the Entomological Society of America has assigned a new designation

Browntail moth caterpillars have small hairs that can cause a poison ivy-like rash and difficulty breathing in humans.

Rash-Causing Moths Are Spreading in Maine Because of Climate Change

The outbreak of browntail moths in the state will likely grow worse as temperatures increase, researchers say

Fisheries biologists caught invasive armored catfish in Houston bayous in 2017.&nbsp;

More Than 400 Invasive Fish Dumped From Aquariums Found in Texas River

Plecos, or suckermouth armored catfish, are efficient, algae-eating tank cleaners, but they are native to South America with few natural predators

Despite the species&rsquo; name, European green crabs&rsquo; color varies widely from dark brown to dark green with patches of yellow or orange.

Nearly 70,000 Invasive Green Crabs Were Captured in Washington State Last Fall

State government officials took emergency actions this month to eradicate the non-native species

None

Robotic Fish Are This Invasive Species' 'Worst Nightmare'

The tiny swimmers wreak havoc across the globe, but the robofish shocked them enough to impair their survival and reproduction

The three-inch Joros can weave their massive webs almost anywhere, including porches, gardens and mailboxes.

'Like a Scene Out of 'Arachnophobia,'' Invasive Spiders Take Over Northern Georgia

Scientists are torn on whether the Joro spider could have positive or negative effects on the native ecosystem

Colombian wildlife officials hope to control a rather large invasive species&mdash;the hippo&mdash;with contraceptive drugs.

Officials Use Contraceptives to Control Pablo Escobar's 'Cocaine' Hippos

Smuggled into Colombia by the drug kingpin in the 1980s, the African mammal is now a growing environmental threat in the South American country

Page 3 of 9