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Some of the worst offenders...

Invasive species are a global problem; causing economic, social and environmental damage.

Explore the species

Explore the species

The worst invasive species

Fall armyworm
Spodoptera frugiperda

Fall armyworm feeds in large numbers on leaves, stems and fruit of many plants. It causes severe damage to over one hundred types of plants, including economically important cultivated grasses such as maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, cotton and vegetable crops.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HITRUE
Tuta absoluta
Tuta absoluta

Tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) is a species of moth. Approximately 1cm in length, Tuta absoluta was originally native to Peru but has become widespread across Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.
InvasiveAfrica HITRUE
Parthenium
Parthenium hysterophorus

Parthenium is native to South America. It was accidentally introduced to several countries and has become a severe threat in Australia, Asia and Africa. It can grow almost anywhere and spreads rapidly.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HITRUE
Prosopis
Prosopis juliflora

Prosopis is an incredibly aggressive invasive species which invades a wide range of habitats.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HITRUE
Opuntia
Opuntia stricta

Opuntia (Opuntia stricta) was introduced to Africa and Australia as an ornamental plant. It has since spread throughout these continents and many more countries worldwide. The horticultural trade has been blamed for the spread as it is often imported for gardens and displays.
InvasiveAfrica HITRUE
Banana bunchy top virus
Banana bunchy top virus

It was first identified in Fiji in 1889, and has spread around the world since then. Like many viruses, BBTV was named after the symptoms seen; where the infected plants are stunted and have 'bunchy' leaves at the top. The disease is transmitted from plant-to-plant in tropical regions of the world by banana aphids.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HIFALSE
Mikania
Mikania micrantha

Mikania (Mikania micrantha) is a fast growing vine which is commonly referred to as the ‘mile-a-minute weed.’ It was introduced to parts of Asia in the early 20th century, where it quickly became a problem.
InvasiveAsia HITRUE
Maize lethal necrosis disease
Maize lethal necrosis disease

Maize lethal necrosis disease is caused by a combination of Maize chlorotic mottle virus and Sugarcane mosaic virus.
InvasiveAfrica HITRUE
Oriental fruit fly
Bactrocera species

The Oriental fruit fly is native to Asia, but has spread to over 30 countries, including parts of America and Oceania. Increases in international tourism and trade have been linked to the increased potential risk of introduction.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HITRUE
Larger grain borer
Prostephanus truncatus

Larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus) is a beetle that was introduced separately into east and west Africa, but by the mid 90's was widespread across 11 African countries.
InvasiveAfrica HITRUE
Chromolaena
Chromolaena odorata

A large shrub which has the ability to climb over other vegetation smothering native plants and plantation crops, reducing yields and increasing management costs.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HITRUE
Mimosa pigra
Mimosa pigra

Mimosa pigra is a large prickly shrub or small tree that invades floodplains, wetlands, canals and rice paddies.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HITRUE
Water hyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes

Water hyacinth is native to South America and is a major freshwater weed. It was originally introduced as an ornamental plant due to its striking flowers, but has since spread at an alarming rate.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HIFALSE
Cassava mosaic disease
Cassava mosaic disease

Cassava mosaic disease is caused by a combination of the three cassava mosaic geminiviruses. It primarily infects cassava plants and is transmitted by whitefly and the first reported infection was in 1984. Infections result in great economic loss and famine. The virus is the most detrimental disease affecting food supply in Africa.
InvasiveAfrica HIFALSE
Mimosa diplotricha
Mimosa diplotricha

Commonly known as Creeping sensitive plant, the plant grows in large clumps which are hard to remove due to the plant's thorns.
InvasiveAsia HIFALSE
Coffee berry borer
Hypothenemus hampei

The coffee berry borer is a scolytid beetle which has become an invasive pest in almost all coffee-growing countries. Transportation of infected coffee seeds has been suggested as the cause of a worldwide spread of the invasive. The beetles bore through the coffee berry at fruiting stage, causing the berries to rot and turn black.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HIFALSE
Liriomyza trifolii
Liriomyza trifolii

Commonly known as the serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii is a major pest of ornamental and vegetable crops.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HIFALSE
Striga asiatica
Striga asiatica

Striga asiatica is a much feared weed in crop land, where infestations can build up to ruinous levels.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HIFALSE
Salvinia molesta
Salvinia molesta

Salvinia molesta is a free-floating aquatic plant, native to south-eastern Brazil. The weed is invasive in a variety of aquatic habitats, including lakes, rivers and rice paddies. As a result of the economic, environmental and social damage that has been caused by salvinia molesta, it has been ranked the second most noxious aquatic weed and is one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HIFALSE
Ageratum conyzoides
Ageratum conyzoides

Often found as part of a mix of invasive flora, Ageratum conyzoides colonize cultivated and overgrazed tropical land. Once established, it is often rapidly replaced by a variety of woody weeds. Commonly referred to as billy goat weed, Ageratum conyzoides is native to South and Central America.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HIFALSE
Lantana
Lantana camara

Lantana invades natural pasture, croplands and protected areas.
InvasiveAfrica InvasiveAsia HITRUE
Golden apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata

The golden apple snail is a freshwater snail which is native to parts of Argentina and Uruguay. It was originally introduced across Asia as a food source, but has since spread rapidly through canals and rivers. The snail feeds on aquatic plants and has been devastating rice crops in the area.
InvasiveAsia HIFALSE

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