Invasive Species

What problems do invasive species cause?

* Are considered "biological pollutants"

* Their populations can often rapidly increase allowing them to disrupt native plant communities and crowd out native species. By changing habitat, they can also affect species beyond those they may directly displace.

* cause problems for those who use natural resources, whether for recreational use of land or waters or industrial use of public waters. Once established, invasive species rarely can be eliminated

How do invasive species move from their natural range to new, distant places?

* Most introductions are the result of human activities.

* Some introductions, such as common carp, buckthorn, and purple loosestrife, were intentional and have caused unexpected damage.

* Many exotic introductions are unintentional.

* Species are carried on barges, boats and trailers, animals, vehicles, commercial goods, packing materials, produce, footwear or clothing, and in ballast water of ships.

Red Palm Weevil

* Dispersal: The international trade in live palms is the most likely conduit that has allowed this pest, probably moved as eggs, larvae, or pupae hidden inside palms, to move vast distances. RPW may establish readily in new areas because it has traveled with its food supply, or there are other ornamental or date palms nearby that it can infest once larvae finish developing and emerge as new adults that abandon their original host plant.

* Economic Damage: Red Palm Weevil is widely considered to be the most damaging insect pest of palms in the world. RPW’s are usually attracted to unhealthy palm trees, but they will often attack healthy palms too. Red Palm Weevil larvae feed within the apical growing point of the palms creating extensive damage to palm tissues and weakening the structure of the palm trunk.

Ghost ant

Effects:

* Known as to affect agricultural production in situations such as greenhouses, especially if it...