Invasive Plants and Animals

Plants and animals have been moved outside of their native ranges for hundreds of years. When settlers came to America, they brought many species from their homelands with them. Many have turned out to be benign, or even useful to us. Others, however, have created problems.

The National Invasive Species Council defines an invasive as a species which causes harm to the ecology, economy or human health.

Use the list below to navigate to a topic of interest either by taxonomy or by habitat.

Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Photo: IPANE   Navigate by Taxonomy Plants Aquatic Terrestrial Animals Mammals Birds Reptiles and Amphibians Fish Insects Other Invertebrates Navigate by Habitat Aquatic Freshwater  Marine Terrestrial Plants Animals Cactus moth larvae (Cactoblastis cactorum).  Photo: Mississippi State University