Custom Species Lists
Invasive species (those which are not native to the region and are known to cause harm) and non-native species both threaten the integrity of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Non-native species have the potential to become invasive, and preventing their introduction to the Sound is better than the costly and difficult work of removing them once they become established. Invasive species utilize resources which are vital to the survival of native species, and may outcompete or even feed on indigenous plants and animals, driving them towards extinction. Invasive species also may introduce disease and parasites, alter habitat, and breed with native species, diluting their genetic material. The Puget Sound Partnership states that aquatic nuisance species are the second greatest threat to Puget Sound biodiversity, after habitat loss.
These lists of invasive and nonnative species come from multiple sources (listed below), and are as current as possible. However, the status of these species in the Puget Sound region is subject to change, and many efforts are underway to eradicate harmful populations.
Noxious weeds in Washington State: Noxious Weed Control Board
Invasive Freshwater Species: USGS
Invasive Marine Species: National Exotic Marine and Estuarine Information System (NEMESIS)
Invasive Insects and Land Invertebrates: Looney, Chris, Eric LaGasa and Todd Murray. Exotic Pest Detection in Washington State: How Alert Citizens and Insatiable Naturalists Enhance Pest Survey. Presentation, Entomological Society of America, 2011.
Invasive species: invertebrates
- Aedes togoi
- Amphibalanus improvisus
- Ampithoe valida
- Bugula stolonifera
- Cecina manchurica
- Cercaria batillariae
- Cladonema radiatum
- Crepidula onyx
- Grandidierella japonica
- Hobsonia florida
- Incisocalliope derzhavini
- Jassa marmorata
- Melanotus cete
- Melita nitida
- Monocorophium acherusicum
- Monocorophium insidiosum
- Nippoleucon hinumensis
- Notocelia cynosbatella
- Pseudostylochus ostreophagus
- Rhyparochromus vulgaris
- Schizoporella japonica
- Streblospio benedicti
- Thrips flavus
- Watersipora subtorquata
- Cryptosula pallasiana - (A Bryozoan)
- Heteromastus filiformis - (A Capitellid Worm)
- Mytilicola orientalis - (A Copepod)
- Diplosoma listerianum - (A Sea Squirt)
- Teredo navalis - (A Shipworm)
- Tubificoides benedii - (A Sludge-worm)
- Limnodriloides monothecus - (A Tubificid Worm)
- Tubificoides apectinatus - (A Tubificid Worm)
- Tubificoides brownae - (A Tubificid Worm)
- Tubificoides diazi - (A Tubificid Worm)
- Tubificoides wasselli - (A Tubificid Worm)
- Xyloterinus politus - (Ambrosia Beetle)
- Urosalpinx cinerea - (American Whelk Tingle)
- Aphis vaccinii - (An Aphid)
- Caecidotea racovitzai - (An Asellid Isopod)
- Orthione griffenis - (An Isopod)
- Synanthedon myopaeformis - (Apple Clearwing)
- Argyresthia conjugella - (Apple Fruit Moth)
- Archips fuscocupreana - (Apple Tortrix)
- Xyleborinus alni - (Asian Ambrosia Beetle)
- Corbicula fluminea - (Asiatic Clam)
- Clymenella torquata - (Bambou Worm)
- Pandemis cerasana - (Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix)
- Radix auricularia - (Big-eared Radix)
- Metapoplax ditomoides - (Big-nosed Bug)
- Xylosandrus germanus - (Black Stem Borer)
- Largus cinctus - (Bordered Plant Bug)
- Halichondria bowerbanki - (Bowerbank's Halichondria)
- Enarmonia formosana - (Cherrybark Tortrix)
- Cipangopaludina chinensis - (Chinese Mysterysnail)
- Styela clava - (Club Tunicate)
- Botrylloides violaceus - (Colonial Sea Squirt)
- Hemithea aestivaria - (Common Emerald)
- Crepidula fornicata - (Common Slipper Shell)
- Didemnum vexillum - (Compound Sea Squirt)
- Crepidula convexa - (Convex Slippersnail)
- Tipula oleracea - (Crane Fly)
- Clepsis spectrana - (Cyclamen Tortrix)
- Pandemis heparana - (Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix)
- Notocelia rosaecolana - (Doubledays Notocelia Moth)
- Agriotes obscurus - (Dusky Wireworm Beetle)
- Ilyanassa obsoleta - (Eastern Mudsnail)
- Crassostrea virginica - (Eastern Oyster)
- Crepidula plana - (Eastern White Slippersnail)
- Ostrea edulis - (Edible Oyster)
- Myrmica rubra - (European Fire Ant)
- Trypodendron domesticum - (European Hardwood Beetle)
- Polistes dominula - (European Paper Wasp)
- Duponchelia fovealis - (European Pepper Moth)
- Neodiprion sertifer - (European Pine Sawfly)
- Austrobilharzia variglandis - (Flatworm)
- Cordylophora caspia - (Freshwater Hydroid)
- Craspedacusta sowerbyi - (Freshwater Jellyfish)
- Acleris holmiana - (Golden Leafroller Moth)
- Botryllus schlosseri - (Golden Star Tunicate)
- Monsoma pulverata - (Green Alder Sawfly)
- Hedya nubiferana - (Green Budworm Moth)
- Carcinus maenas - (Green Crab)
- Pasiphila rectangulata - (Green Pug Moth)
- Ceratothrips ericae - (Heather Thrips)
- Contarinia quinquenotata - (Hemerocallis Gall Midge)
- Haminoea japonica - (Japanese Bubble Snail)
- Batillaria attramentaria - (Japanese False Cerith)
- Nassarius fraterculus - (Japanese Nassa)
- Ocinebrellus inornatus - (Japanese Oyster Drill)
- Caprella mutica - (Japanese Skeleton Shrimp)
- Archips podana - (Large Fruit-tree Tortrix)
- Noctua pronuba - (Large Yellow Underwing)
- Recurvaria nanella - (Lesser Bud Moth)
- Noctua comes - (Lesser Yellow Underwing)
- Agriotes lineatus - (Lined Click Beetle)
- Venerupis philippinarum - (Manila Clam)
- Anisolabis maritima - (Maritime Earwig)
- Cernuella virgata - (Maritime Gardensnail)
- Mytilus galloprovincialis - (Mediterranean Mussel)
- Homadaula anisocentra - (Mimosa Webworm)