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What Is An Invasive Species?

Invasive species is a name for a species that has become a weed pest, a plant which grows aggressively, spreads and displaces other plants or an insect that is impacting plant habitats, both physically and economically.

Invasive plants are generally undesirable because they are difficult to control, and can escape from cultivation. Invasive plant infestations can be extremely expensive to control, as well as environmentally destructive.

Invasives are a major factor in the decline of native plants. Invasive plants are displacing native palnts and degrading habitat for native insects, birds, and animals. Endangered, rare, and threatened native species of plant and animals are especially at risk because they often occur in such small populations that make them particularly vulnerable.

Invasive insects such as Emerald Ash Borer which destroys ash trees and other desirable species can destroy millions of dollars worth of trees, impacting such diverse industries such as furniture makers, landscapers and baseball bat making.

Read more about invasive species on the  PA Department of Agriculture Web site.

Invasive Species List

Insects		Click the photo for a full size picture.
1. Taxonomic Name: Adelges tsugae
	Common Names: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Life Form: Insect  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: If possible, capture species in a jar and note the location and date. Contact: PA Dept. of Agriculture Hotline at 1-866-253-7189.
2. Taxonomic Name: Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire
	Common Names: Emerald Ash Borer Life Form: Insect  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: If possible, capture species in a jar and note the location and date. Contact: PA Dept. of Agriculture Hotline at 1-866-253-7189.
3. Taxonomic Name: Anoplophora glabripennis
	Common Names: Asian Longhorned Beetle, Asiatischer Laubholzkfer(German), Longicorne Asiatique (French), Starry Sky Beetle Life Form: Insect  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: If possible, capture species in a jar and note the location and date. Contact: PA Dept. of Agriculture Hotline at 1-877-464-9333.
4. Taxonomic Name: Halyomorpha halys
	Common Names: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Life Form: Insect  Invasive.Org Page Contact: PA Dept. of Agriculture Hotline at 1-866-253-7189.
Plants * Note: For herbicides, always follow directions as indicated on the label for proper product use. Always use or wear personal protective equipment as recommended on label.
		Click the photo for a full size picture.
1. Taxonomic Name: Ailanthus altissima
	Common Names: Tree of Heaven, Chinese Sumac, Stinking Shumac Life Form: Shrub, Tree  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: Cut and pull small plants and dispose in garbage bags. For large plants girdle the trunk and spray with glyphosate or appropriate herbicide*.
2. Taxonomic Name: Fallopia japonica
	Common Names: Japanese Knotweed, Crimson Beauty, Donkey Rhubarb, German Sausage, Huzhang (Chinese), Itadori (Japanese), Japanese Bamboo, Japanese Fleece Flower, Japanese Polygonum, Kontiki Bamboo, Mexican-Bamboo,Peashooter Plant, Renoue du Japon (French-France), Reynoutria Fleece Flower, Sally Rhubarb Life Form: Herb, Shrub  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: If possible, pull or dig plants and place in garbage bags. For large plants, spray with glyphosate herbicide*.
3. Taxonomic Name: Heracleum mantegazzianum
	Common Names: Giant Hogweed, Barszcz Mantegazyjski (Poland), Cartwheel-Flower Life Form: Herb  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control:Caution: Do not touch. Any physical contact is a health hazard. Giant Hogweed is a both a Federal and Pennsylvania Noxious Weed. Check below for more information.  Giant Hogweed from PA Dept. of Agriculture Contact: PA Dept. of Agriculture Hotline at 1-877-464-9333.
4. Taxonomic Name: Lythrum salicaria
	Common Names: Purple Loosestrife, Blutweiderich (German), Rainbow Weed, Salicaire (French), Spiked Loosestrife Life Form: Aquatic Plant, Herb  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: For a small number of plants cut and pull and dispose in garbage bags. For a large stand of plants spray with glyphosate or appropriate herbicide*. Do not use the herbicide* over water locations. Purple Loosestrife is a Pennsylvania Noxious Weed.
5. Taxonomic Name: Microstegium vimineum
	Common Names: Japanese Stilt Grass, Japanese Grass, Annual Jewgrass, Asian Stilt Grass, Bamboograss, Chinese Packing Grass, Flexible Sesagrass, Mary's Grass, Nepal Grass, Nepal Microstegium, Nepalese Browntop, Vietnamese Stilt Grass Life Form: Grass  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: For a small number of plants cut and pull and dispose in garbage bags. For large stand of spray with glyphosate or appropriate herbicide*. Contact: PA Dept. of Agriculture Hotline at 1-866-253-7189.
6. Taxonomic Name: Polygonum perfoliatum
	Common Names: Mile-A-Minute-Vine, Mile-A-Minute-Weed, Minuteweed, Asiatic Tearthumb, Devil's-Tail Tearthumb, Ishimikawa (Japanese), Tearthumb Life Form: Trailing Vine  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: Mile-A-Minute-Weed is a Pennsylvania Noxious Weed. For more information check  Mile-A-Minute-Vine from PA Dept. of Agriculture Contact: PA Dept. of Agriculture Hotline at 1-866-253-7189.
7. Taxonomic Name: Pueraria montana var. lobata
	Common Names: Kudzu, Kudzu Vine, Kudzu-Kletterwein (German) Life Form: Vine, Climber  Global Invasive Species Database Page How to Control: For a small number of plants cut and pull and dispose in garbage bags. For a large stand of plants spray with clopyralid or appropriate herbicide*. Kudzu Vine is a Pennsylvania Noxious Weed. Contact: PA Dept. of Agriculture Hotline at 1-866-253-7189.

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