Invasive Pests: Stopping the Spread

 

Invasive pests threaten California's natural environments, agricultural production, structures, landscapes and gardens, causing billions of dollars of damage to our agricultural systems and natural areas each year. 

 

Throughout history, humans have moved plants and animals around the globe, bringing them from their native lands to new settlements. In California, some introductions did unexpected damage while others, such as food crops, had positive outcomes. New species are often intentionally introduced, although numerous exotic species arrive in products brought into California accidentally by travelers or shipped in commercial trade. Many invasive plant problems began as ornamental plants for sale by nurseries and garden centers. Exotic and invasive plants are still available in commercial nurseries.

 

There are numerous invasive pests of major concern in California, such as the white garden snail, spotted lanternfly, nutria, wild pig, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), and various species of weeds. Some of the worst invasive plants in California, brooms and yellow starthistle, have caused substantial changes to California's wildlands. The pathogen that causes sudden oak death was inadvertently introduced to California forests on nursery stock and is estimated to have killed more than 1 million oak and tanoak trees during the last decade. Insect-carried diseases such as West Nile virus and others threaten public health, horses, and native birds.