Invasive Species

Latest about invasive species

An Asian giant hornet queen rests on her soon-to-be destroyed nest in near Blaine, Washington.

'Murder hornet' nest leads to discovery of 180 adults, 1,500 larvae

By Laura Geggel published

A "murder hornet" nest in Washington had 113 adults and 1,500 developing Asian giant hornets inside.

Bees & Wasps
Adults of the Asian giant hornet can be distinguished from other hornets by their big “cheeks” (which hold muscles for savage biting), teardrop-shaped eyes and a scalloped structure above the mandibles in between the eyes.

Invasive 'murder hornets' are officially back in the US

By Jeanna Bryner published

An invasive and destructive "murder hornet" has been spotted in Washington state for the first time this year, and the alien-looking insect was behaving accordingly — attacking a hive of paper wasps.

Bees & Wasps
One of the enormous fish discovered in Lake Keller.

Football-size goldfish are taking over US lakes

By Ben Turner published

They can grow up to 1.5 feet and survive for more than five months without oxygen.

Fish
Close up photo of a Burmese python, one of the most prevalent invasive species in Florida.

What are invasive species?

By Jen Monnier published

An invasive species is a type of animal, plant, fungus or any other living thing that has arrived in a new environment and can harm other species there.

Animals
An invasive jumping worm spotted in Wisconsin.

'Crazy worms' have invaded the forests of 15 states, and scientists are worried

By Brandon Specktor published

Highly invasive jumping worms or 'crazy worms' have been found in 15 states, and they are only poised to spread more, scientists warn.

Animals
The arapaima, one of the world's largest freshwater fish, is native to the Amazon River.

Amazon 'river monster' turns up dead in Florida

By Laura Geggel published

A dead "river monster" from the Amazon was discovered in Florida, leading to concerns that the fish might become an invasive species there.

Fish
The brown tree snake, which is nocturnal, was accidentally introduced to Guam in the late 1940s or early 1950s.

Bizarre new type of locomotion discovered in invasive snakes

By Harry Baker published

Researchers believe the new locomotion is behind the success of invasive snakes in Guam and hope to use this information to create countermeasures.

Snakes
Wildlife biologist Jenny Ketterlin Eckles and wildlife technician Edward Mercer, both with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, hold a Burmese python during a press conference in the Florida Everglades about the non-native species on Jan. 29, 2015 in Miami, Florida.

Would you eat a python to save the Everglades?

By Patrick Pester published

Invading pythons are causing problems for the native wildlife in Florida. Should people start eating them and are they even safe to eat?

Snakes
An Asian giant hornet (aka "murder hornet") prepares to emerge from a cell in a nest discovered in Washington State.

200 'murder hornet' queens found inside first US nest of this invasive insect

By Stephanie Pappas published

There were nearly 200 new queens poised to start their own colonies in a 'murder hornet' nest destroyed by Washington state entomologists.

Insects
Wearing protective suits, Washington State Department of Agriculture workers vacuum up a nest of Asian giant hornets on Oct. 24, 2020, in Blaine, Washington. Working in the pre-dawn darkness, the workers are illuminated by red lamps as they search, trap and use dental floss to tie tracking devices to the so-called murder hornets.

1st 'murder hornet' nest in US found and destroyed

By Stephanie Pappas published

The invasive wasp is a threat to honeybees.

Bees & Wasps
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