Can You Tell The Difference?

Asian Lady Beetle

American Ladybug












Many invasive species are disguised to look like a common organism that doesn’t seem harmful. Take a look at the Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) which is commonly confused as the American Ladybug. They began their spread in the U.S. back in 1988 and have been taking over the natural habitats of the American Ladybug ever since. They destroy the plant life that the Ladybug populations use for food. This causes the native bugs to leave and the Asian Lady Beetle to run ramped.

This is a common thing happens with invasive species. An invasive species by definition is an organism that is not native to an area that can spread and reproduce quickly and cause devastating effects. Many invasive species are spread by humans unknowingly, especially if they travel overseas. For plants they normally spread through plants brought over from abroad which then their seeds travel by the wind or water and begin to reproduce and grow in numbers. Invasive species could even carry potential diseases that could be harmful to the organisms they are trying to replace or other organisms (humans). Invasive species can change an ecosystem around completely.

Tying to remove invasive species from natural habitats could help native populations begin to regrow and flourish. Learning to identify an invasive species from a native species could differentiate between killing a native species or an invader. Cleaning boats, tires, and outdoor equipment could also help stop the spread of invasive species and by also not bringing a foreign organism into a new area.

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