Invasive Species

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The term "invasive ladybug look alike" usually refers to non-native ladybird species that resemble common native ladybugs. The most prominent example is the harlequin ladybird (...

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Burmese pythons are most famously invasive in South Florida, particularly within the Everglades ecosystem. The population established after escaped or released pets bred in the...

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The walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) is native to Southeast Asia. It was introduced to Florida primarily through the aquarium trade. In the 1960s, some escaped or were releas...

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The spotted lanternfly remains an established invasive pest in 2025, with confirmed populations in multiple states. The insect continues to spread through both natural movement...

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Nile monitor lizards are large, semi-aquatic reptiles native to Africa. Adults can reach over four feet long and have muscular bodies, long claws, and powerful tails. They are o...

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Tall invasive plants are non-native species that grow over 6 feet and spread aggressively outside their native range. They outcompete native vegetation, alter soil chemistry, an...

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Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia but became established in Florida through the exotic pet trade. Many were released or escaped from captivity, and the warm, wet clim...

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Green iguanas (Iguana iguana) are large, herbivorous lizards native to Central and South America. They were introduced to Florida through the exotic pet trade and have establish...

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The giant Asian hornet, also called the "murder hornet," is the world's largest hornet species. In the US, it was first confirmed in Washington State in late 2019 and has since...

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The Japanese giant hornet, also called the Asian giant hornet, is the world's largest hornet species. It is native to East Asia and has been the subject of intense monitoring in...

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Eating invasive species means harvesting and consuming animals or plants that threaten local ecosystems. These species often reproduce rapidly and lack natural predators in new...

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Green iguanas are native to Central and South America but were introduced to Florida, Hawaii, Texas, and parts of the Caribbean through the pet trade. Escaped or released pets e...

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The Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is the most well-known invasive ladybug in North America and Europe. Originally introduced for biological pest control in agriculture,...

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Iguanas are invasive when introduced outside their native range, often through the pet trade or accidental escapes. They reproduce quickly, adapt to warm coastal climates, and t...

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Snakehead fish are freshwater perciform fish in the family Channidae. They are native to parts of Africa and Asia and are identified by their elongated body, large mouth, and lo...

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Lanternflies, specifically the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), were first found in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014. The initial discovery was l...

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The Burmese python is a large constrictor snake native to Southeast Asia. In Florida, it is considered a destructive invasive species. The snakes were introduced through the exo...

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In many regions, iguanas are classified as invasive species because they are nonnative and cause ecological or economic harm. Green iguanas, in particular, have established bree...

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Snakehead fish are freshwater predatory fish in the family Channidae. They have elongated bodies, large mouths, and can breathe air using a primitive lung-like organ.

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Nutria, also called coypu, are large rodents native to South America. In the early 20th century, U.S. fur farmers imported them to breed for their dense, waterproof pelts.

reptiles

When reports mention a massive python found in Florida, they typically refer to the non-native reticulated python or, less commonly, the Indian rock python. These snakes are est...

animals-wildlife

A wayward toad is a toad that has strayed into human spaces, such as gardens, basements, pools, or streets, often becoming displaced from its normal habitat. These solitary, ter...

wildlife

Wild alligators are not established in Ohio, but warm‑weather releases and temporary pets sometimes place individual alligators in the state, especially in southern counties n...

wildlife

Big lizards in Florida are most often Nile monitors and tegus, alongside large native and introduced species that appear in yards, parks, and wetlands. This guide pairs photos a...

ecology

Invasive snakes in the Florida Everglades represent a persistent ecological challenge with far-reaching consequences for native biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and public saf...

invasive-species

The anaconda problem in Florida centers on nonnative snakes, particularly green anacondas, establishing populations in wetland and waterway habitats. These large constrictors ra...

Environment & Invasive Species

Invasive animals in Nebraska represent a persistent challenge to native ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and infrastructure. These species are non-native organisms introdu...

reptiles

Nile monitors (Varanus niloticus) are large lizards occasionally reported in Florida. This profile clarifies their native range versus introduced populations, explains how to id...

wildlife

Wild monkeys in Florida represent established, nonnative populations deriving from historic releases or escapes, primarily near Miami and in parts of the central interior. These...

wildlife

Northern snakehead (Channa argus) is a predatory fish native to parts of Asia and eastern Russia. In Missouri, it is most relevant in the southeastern lowland rivers and connect...

wildlife

Rock pythons are large, Old-World constrictors native to sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Southeast Asia. In Florida, they are not established but are of concern due to past intr...

Wildlife & Habitat

Water monitors are large lizards in the genus Varanus that occur across Africa, Asia, and Australia. In Florida, the term usually refers to the invasive Nile monitor (Varanus ni...

travel-and-outdoors

No, there are no native snakes in the Hawaiian Islands, and the state has intentionally remained snake‑free through strict biosecurity and enforcement. Hawaii is one of the fe...

Environment-Fisheries

Snakeheads are air-breathing freshwater fishes established in parts of the United States, and their presence in Missouri is a topic of ongoing concern for fisheries managers and...

Science & Nature

Murder hornet is a common name for Vespa mandarinia, the world’s largest hornet species. Native to parts of Asia, these insects have drawn attention because of their size, pre...

invasive-species

Green iguanas ( Iguana iguana ) are large, herbivorous lizards native to Central and South America that have become established invasive species in parts of the Caribbean and so...

reptiles

Hawaii’s snake situation is defined by strict quarantine, minimal native species, and high biosecurity concern over invasive arrivals. This guide explains which snakes exist o...

reptiles

Tegus are large lizards native to South America, and some species have become established in parts of the southeastern United States, including Georgia. Their presence raises co...

invasive-species

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is a burrowing crab native to East Asia that has been documented in U.S. waters since the early 20th century. In Oregon, reports are...

invasive-species-overview

Burmese pythons are in Florida because they were released or escaped from the pet trade into the Everglades, establishing a breeding population since the 1990s. Native to Southe...

wildlife

Orange iguanas in Florida are non-native reptiles established primarily in South Florida due to pet releases and storm-driven spread. These herbivorous lizards alter coastal veg...

reptiles

The largest confirmed Burmese python (Python bivittatus) on scientifically accepted record is a female harvested in the Florida Everglades in 2023. She measured 19 feet 6 inches...

wildlife-and-conservation

Yes, nonnative pythons are present and established in parts of Florida. They are not native to the state, but multiple species, most notably the Burmese python, now reproduce in...