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Publication NA–FR–01–11.

One of the keys to a rapid response to invasive species is the early identification of new occurrences. Please help report occurrences of invasive species in Minnesota. To report suspicious pest species arriving on plants or articles from foreign countries or other states, please contact the MDA's Report a Pest. To report invasive aquatic plants or wild animals, please contact the DNR Invasive Species Program at: 651-259-5100 (metro) or 1-888-646-6367.

Invasive zebra and quagga mussels are an immediate threat to Western states. With no controls, they spread rapidly, foul boats and equipment, clog water intake, and increase costs to hydropower operations and municipal water utilities. Even dead mussels can be a nuisance, littering beaches with shells. Management of these invaders is expensive; in the Great Lakes, managing mussels costs about $500 million annually. Until 2007, the mussels were limited to waterways and lakes east of the Mississippi, but now they have spread westward. In 2016, quagga mussels were found in Lake Powell.

Unfortunately, there are no foolproof existing technologies or treatments to eradicate established mussel populations in large, open water systems in an environmentally sound manner. Early warning, however, helps us prepare before the mussels or other invasive species arrive.

The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), also called the Asiatic citrus psyllid or ACP, is a notorious pest that prefers citrus and closely related plants for hosts, particularly species within the genera Citrus, Citropsis, and Murraya. Although the spread of this vector is a concern, with vigilant scouting for obvious symptoms, and close inspections to detect the pests themselves, we can work together to be proactive in protecting our citrus. Here IDTools presents a set of IDaids that support the detection and identification of the Asian citrus psyllid. Visit Search IDaids to find identification resources for many more plant pests.

Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly has quickly spread since its initial detection in 2014. The insect is not a strong flier, yet its U.S. range is expanding, mostly due to the movement of vehicles, outdoor furniture, or other objects to which females glue their inconspicuous egg masses. Includes ID aids to help identify the spotted lanternfly in all its life stages, from egg mass through adult.

In 2020, ITP received funding from the Plant Protection Act Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program to produce an identification tool for species of Vespa. ITP is working with the University of California, Davis and the American Museum of Natural History to produce a comprehensive website to support screening and identification of hornet species from around the world. Until that tool is available in late 2021, here is a set of IDaids that offer tips for identifying AGH and more as part of the effort to help protect our honeybees.
See also: Search IDaids to find identification resources for other pests and diseases that affect agriculture.

In May of this year, USDA confirmed the presence of box tree moths in the U.S. The pests likely hitchhiked here via infested plant material imported from an Ontario, Canada nursery. APHIS has initiated an emergency response including a federal order halting host material from crossing the border pending risk analysis. Here is a set of resources supporting identification of this pest to help protect America's boxwoods.

Many Florida residents find unknown plants growing in their yard, unknown bugs in their houses or gardens, and apparent diseases on what were previously healthy plants. But Florida residents may not know what resources are available to identify these disease, plant, and pest organisms.

ITP supports PPQ in its efforts to prevent the entry, spread, and establishment of invasive pests in the U.S. by delivering interactive, electronic identification tools.

See also: IDAids which supports identification of plant pest of concern to PPQ. Includes over 3,000 vetted ID Aids includes both web and app-based image galleries, keys, fact sheets, screening aids, pest alerts, molecular identification tools, and more. All groups of plant pests are represented. Use Search IDAids to quickly find useful, quality resources for identification and screening of any type of plant pest. Search by either scientific or common pest name, and then instantly filter your results.

IveGot1 is more than just an app, it is an integrated invasive species reporting and outreach campaign for Florida that includes the app, a website with direct access to invasive species reporting and a hotline 1-888-IVEGOT1 for instant reports of live animals. By reporting sightings of invasive animals and plants, Florida agencies can better assess the extent of the infestations and hopefully eradicate new infestations before they become huge problems. The goal of IveGot1 is to make identification and reporting easy and efficient as possible.

Includes a variety of published guides and internet resources (videos) for use in identifying invasive species that are found in the participating states, provinces, and regions of the iMapInvasives network. The iMapInvasives network is currently comprised of various U.S. states and one Canadian province (Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia, and in Canada - Saskatchewan).

iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over 750,000 scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. Experience and record nature with species identification technology by downloading the iNaturalist app (Android and iPhone) --  See Getting started:

• Find Wildlife - it can be any plant, animal, fungi, slime mold or evidence of life found in the wild
• Take Pictures - be sure to notice the location
• Share Observations - upload your findings to iNaturalist
   

Seek by iNaturalist is an educational tool and provides a kid-friendly alternative. Seek allows you to identify plants and animals from your photos by harnessing image recognition technology, drawing from existing data collected from observations on iNaturalist (no registration is required, and no user data is collected).

The CAPS Program is under USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). The CAPS Program supports PPQ’s mission by conducting exotic plant pest surveys through a national network of cooperators and stakeholders to protect American agriculture and natural resources.
See also: Report invasive species

The primary goal of this service is to provide Mississippi citizens with identification and management recommendations for insect pests that affect their homes, their gardens, or the crops they are trying to produce. The lab also works closely with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and observant Mississippi citizens to help facilitate early detection of new invasive insect pests that appear in the state.

Invader Detectives has been conceptualized as a national program to facilitate the detection of invasive species in urban environments. The majority of invasive species enter the country through the large commercial sea ports and airports located in our Nation’s cities. If we can rapidly detect and respond to potentially harmful non-native species at or near our borders, we can prevent them from spreading to natural areas and agricultural landscapes. Ultimately, this Contractor’s Report is intended to serve as the conceptual framework for developing and implementing Invader Detectives on a national scale through a chapter-based (regional) model. It is a living document and should not be regarded as final guidance. We welcome your input at invasive_species@ios.doi.gov.
See also: NISC and NISC Staff Products for more resources.