invasive-species

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service has confirmed emerald ash borer in Delta, Erath, Hardin, Walker and Wood counties, continuing the spread of the invasive insect into new areas of Texas. Eight new counties have been confirmed with the invasive this year. The detections were made through Texas A&M Forest Service’s statewide emerald ash […] The post Texas A&M Forest Service Detects …

As invasive golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei) spread across California, utilities and water managers face a growing operational challenge with implications for infrastructure, water delivery, and long-term system resilience.

Biologists have long wondered how such a small number of individuals from the invasive species managed to colonize the island so successfully. Few invasive animals have reshaped an ecosystem as dramatically as the brown tree snake, a species commonly used in textbooks to illustrate the damage biological invasions can cause. Native to Australia and the [...]

Check out this new paper, led by long-time FERG-friend Max Tercel, now published in Molecular Ecology! Intraguild interactions drive the dynamics of a complex community of globally invasive ant species Invasive species adversely affect biodiversity, but little is known about how ecologically similar invaders interact. Such intraguild interactions may drive non-native community dynamics and their …

Two large Asian praying mantis species have established breeding populations across parts of Europe. The insects are reportedly eating native pollinators, killing native mantis males during mating, and pushing steadily northward as warming climates open new territory. The species — Hierodula tenuidentata and Hierodula patellifera — have been present on the continent for roughly a decade. Their nu…

Last summer, I was standing on a block near my house when I saw a very distinctive bug skittering up a tree trunk. It had a polka-dotty wing, with red underneath. It was, unmistakably, an invasive spotted lanternfly.  These are all over Brooklyn — they took off here around 2020 and 2021. And I knew […]

Scientists are evaluating the negative effects of an invasive species, the New Zealand mud snail, on trout and shad populations in the Delaware River basin by combining laboratory tests and […] The post Evaluating the Effects of Invasive Mud Snails on the Delaware River Basin appeared first on Stroud Water Research Center .

Aquatic invasive non‑native species can disrupt the delicate balance of our ecosystems, displacing native wildlife and altering habitats. From spreading diseases to creating new competition, their impacts can be far-reaching.  In our increasingly connected world, these species are spreading more easily than ever, and climate …

The New Zealand mudsnail (NZMS; Potamopyrgus antipodarum ) is a widespread aquatic invasive species that is parthenogenic, requiring only a single individual to initiate an infestation. Fish hatcheries–which are critical infrastructure that raise fish to support conservation, recreation, and subsistence fisheries–frequently use local water sources to provide cool water and are especially vulnerab…

You have likely seen invasive species permeate your local neighborhoods or state, but you may not have recognized them. Many invasive plants, especially, can be deceptive in how threatening they are, especially if they are beautiful or unassuming. They may blend in well with their surroundings. One of the most widespread in the U.S. is […] The post How Kudzu Became One of the Most Invasive Vines …

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have caused significant ecosystem changes across North America since their introduction, yet their effects on fish populations remain poorly understood, particularly in Great Plains reservoirs. We quantified effects of zebra mussel invasions on water quality and fish assemblages across 25 reservoirs >5 km2 in Kansas, U.S., where invasions have occurred over th…

AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Across southern Alabama, the invasive species known as torpedograss is wreaking havoc everywhere from upland sites to lakes and marshes. This fast-moving weed spreads in both....

Scientific Reports, Published online: 27 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54379-2 Climatic and anthropogenic factors shape the Asian range expansion of the invasive slug Arion vulgaris

Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) are the most widespread invasive crayfish species, largely dispersed through human mediated activities. Given their ability to disrupt aquatic ecosystems and damage human infrastructure through burrowing, identifying areas of increased introduction risk is valuable for early detection and management. To assist managers, we developed a risk assessment model…

Zebra mussels are a widespread invasive species, causing significant economic harm to structures and ecological harm to native species.1 They were discovered in the Great Lakes in 1988 and have spread[...] The post Research Brief: Identifying Texas Lakes Critical to Zebra Mussel Spread appeared first on Lake Scientist .