Invasive alien species (IAS) factsheets

Invasive Alien Species in Europe

Non-native species introduced into Europe, whether by accident or deliberately, can be of policy concern. As a consequence of their presence, ecosystems can be disrupted, crops and livestock can be affected, and vector-borne diseases or parasites might be introduced. Non-native species causing such adverse effects are called invasive alien species (IAS). To protect native biodiversity and ecosystems, and to mitigate the potential impact on human health and socio-economic activities, the issue of IAS is tackled in Europe by an EU Regulation (2016/1141), which provides for a set of measures to be taken across all member states.

DNA-based species identifications

To implement the proposed actions, accurate species identifications are required. Since morphology-based species identifications are not always possible (e.g. cryptic species, trace material, early life-stages), BopCo evaluates the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequence data to reliably identify the plant and animal species included in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. The results of these evaluations are presented as factsheets (one per IAS) compiled using publicly available DNA sequence data and information aggregated from various sources.

Each factsheet consists of two parts:

a short introduction to the specific IAS, compiling information on its classification, as well as its native and invasive distribution
an investigation with respect to the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequences to identify this IAS using DNA barcoding

The BopCo factsheets aim to inform policy makers and provide relevant authorities with an identification and detection tool for the verification of suspected IAS samples.

Additional information

For further information about the applied approach and materials and methods, please consult the document “Identifying IAS based on DNA barcoding using currently available sequence data: details on applied material and methods ”. For more information concerning the factsheets or how to send samples for analyses, please contact BopCo directly.

Currently, the factsheets cover the plants and animals listed in the original regulation (2016/1141) and the first update (2017/1263). Clicking on the respective pdf-icon will give access to the factsheet compiled by BopCo.

Additionally, BopCo compiled separate factsheets of invasive flatworms in Europe.

Citation

– For the IAS Factsheets web page as a whole:
BopCo – Barcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern. 2024. Invasive alien species (IAS) factsheets. BopCo. Belgium. Available from: https://bopco.be/output/iasfactsheets, accessed on DD-MM-YYYY.

– For an individual IAS factsheet:
See at the end of each factsheet.

Plants

Scientific species name	English species name	French species name	Dutch species name	Start date EU regulation
Acacia saligna	golden wreath wattle	mimosa à feuilles de saule	wilgacacia	15/08/2019
Ailanthus altissima	tree of heaven	ailante glanduleux	hemelboom	15/08/2019
Alternanthera philoxeroides	alligator weed	herbe à alligator	alligatorkruid	02/08/2017
Andropogon virginicus	broomsedge bluestem	barbon de Virginie	Amerikaans bezemgras	15/08/2019
Asclepias syriaca	common milkweed	herbe à coton	zijdeplant	02/08/2017
Baccharis halimifolia	eastern baccharis	baccharide à feuilles d’halime	struikaster	03/08/2016
Cabomba caroliniana	Carolina fanwort	cabomba de Caroline	waterwaaier	03/08/2016
Cardiospermum grandiflorum	balloon vine	vigne ballon	ballonrank	15/08/2019
Cenchrus setaceus (Pennisetum setaceum)	crimson fountaingrass	herbe aux écouvillons pourpres	fraai lampenpoetsergras	02/08/2017
Cortaderia jubata	purple pampas grass	herbe de la pampa pourpre	hoog pampagras	15/08/2019
Ehrharta calycina	perennial veldtgrass	ehrharte calicinale	roze rimpelgras	15/08/2019
Elodea nuttallii	Nuttall’s waterweed	elodée de Nuttall	smalle waterpest	02/08/2017
Gunnera tinctoria	Chilean rhubarb	rhubarbe géante du Chili	mammoetblad	02/08/2017
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides	Senegal tea plant	faux hygrophile	smalle theeplant	15/08/2019
Heracleum mantegazzianum	giant hogweed	berce de Caucase	reuzenbereklauw	02/08/2017
Heracleum persicum	Persian hogweed	berce de Perse	Perzische berenklauw	03/08/2016
Heracleum sosnowskyi	Sosnowsky’s hogweed	berce de Sosnowskyi	Sosnowsky’s berenklauw	03/08/2016
Humulus scandens	Japanese hop	houblon du Japon	oosterse hop	15/08/2019
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides	floating pennywort	hydrocotyle flottante	grote waternavel	03/08/2016
Impatiens glandulifera	Indian balsam	balsamine de l’Himalaya	reuzenbalsemien	02/08/2017
Koenigia polystachya	Himalayan knotweed, cultivated knotweed	renouée de l’Himalaya, renouée à nombreux épis	Afghaanse duizendknoop	02/08/2022
Lagarosiphon major	curly waterweed	elodée à feuilles alternes	verspreidbladige waterpest	03/08/2016
Lespedeza cuneata	Chinese bushclover	lespedeza soyeux	Chinese struikklaver	15/08/2019
Ludwigia grandiflora	water-primrose	jussie à grandes fleurs	grote waterteunisbloem	03/08/2016
Ludwigia peploides	floating primrose-willow	jussie rampante	kleine waterteunisbloem	03/08/2016
Lygodium japonicum	vine-like fern	fougère grimpante du Japon	Japanse klimvaren	15/08/2019
Lysichiton americanus	American skunk cabbage	lysichite	moerasaronskelk	03/08/2016
Microstegium vimineum	Japanese stiltgrass	herbe à échasses japonaise	Japans steltgras	02/08/2017
Myriophyllum aquaticum	Brazilian watermilfoil	myriophylle du Brésil	parelvederkruid	03/08/2016
Myriophyllum heterophyllum	broadleaf watermilfoil	myriophylle à feuilles variées	ongelijkbladig vederkruid	02/08/2017
Parthenium hysterophorus	whitetop weed	fausse camomille	schijnambrosia	03/08/2016
Pontederia crassipes (Eichhornia crassipes)	water hyacinth	eichhornie commune	gewone waterhyacint	03/08/2016
Persicaria perfoliata	Asiatic tearthumb	renouée perfoliée	gestekelde duizendknoop	03/08/2016
Prosopis juliflora	mesquite	bayahonde	mesquite	15/08/2019
Pueraria montana var. lobata (Pueraria lobata)	kudzu vine	puéraire hirsute	kudzu	03/08/2016
Salvinia molesta	Salvinia moss	Salvinie géante	grote vlotvaren	15/08/2019
Triadica sebifera	Chinese tallow	arbre à suif	talgboom	15/08/2019

Factsheets for the plant species included in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. Each factsheet includes a short introduction to the specific IAS (taxonomic classification, native and invasive distribution, etc.) and information on the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequences to identify this IAS using DNA barcoding.

Animals

Scientific species name	English species name	French species name	Dutch species name	Start date EU regulation
Acridotheres tristis	common myna	martin triste	treurmaina	15/08/2019
Alopochen aegyptiaca (Alopochen aegyptiacus)	Egyptian goose	ouette d’Egypte	nijlgans	02/08/2017
Ameiurus melas	black bullhead	poisson-chat	zwarte (Amerikaanse) dwergmeerval	02/08/2022
Arthurdendyus triangulatus	New Zealand flatworm	ver plat de Nouvelle-Zélande	Nieuw-Zeelandse platworm	15/08/2019
Callosciurus erythraeus	Pallas’ squirrel	ecureuil à ventre rouge	Pallas eekhoorn	03/08/2016
Callosciurus finlaysonii	Finlayson’s squirrel, variable squirrel	ecureuil de Finlayson	Finlaysonklappereekhoorn, Thaise eekhoorn	02/08/2022
Channa argus	amur snakehead, northern snakehead, ocellated snakehead	poisson à tête de serpent du Nord	noordelijke slangekopvis	02/08/2022
Corvus splendens	Indian house crow	corbeau d’Inde	huiskraai	03/08/2016
Eriocheir sinensis	Chinese mittencrab	crabe chinois	Chinese wolhandkrab	03/08/2016
Faxonius limosus (Orconectes limosus)	spiny-cheek crayfish	écrevisse américaine	gevlekte rivierkreeft	03/08/2016
Faxonius rusticus	rusty crayfish	écrevisse à taches rouges	NA	02/08/2022
Faxonius virilis (Orconectes virilis)	virile crayfish	écrevisse à pinces bleues	geknobbelde Amerikaanse rivierkreeft	03/08/2016
Fundulus heteroclitus	Mummichog	Choquemort	NA	02/08/2024
Gambusia affinis	western mosquitofish	gambusie de l’ouest	muskietenvisje	02/08/2022
Gambusia holbrooki	eastern mosquitofish	gambusie de l’est	oostelijk muskietenvisje	02/08/2022
Herpestes javanicus (H.j. auropunctatus)	small Asian mongoose	mangouste	Indische mangoest	03/08/2016
Lampropeltis getula	eastern kingsnake, common kingsnake, chain kingsnake	serpent roi	gewone koningsslang	02/08/2022
Lepomis gibbosus	pumpkinseed	perche soleil	zonnebaars	15/08/2019
Limnoperna fortunei	golden mussel	moule dorée	gouden mossel	02/08/2022
Lithobates catesbeianus	American bullfrog	grenouille-taureau	Amerikaanse stierkikker	03/08/2016
Morone americana	white perch, narrow-mouthed bass, sea perch, silver perch, wreckfish	baret, perche blanche, bar-perche ou petit bar, bar blanc d’Amerique, cernier atlantique, perche blanche	Amerikaanse zeebaars	02/08/2022
Muntiacus reevesi	muntjac deer	muntjac	muntjak	03/08/2016
Myocastor coypus	coypu	ragondin	beverrat	03/08/2016
Nasua nasua	coati	coati roux	rode neusbeer	03/08/2016
Nyctereutes procyonoides	raccoon dog	chien viverrin	wasbeerhond	02/02/2019
Ondatra zibethicus	muskrat	rat musqué	muskusrat	02/08/2017
Oxyura jamaicensis	ruddy duck	érismature rousse	rosse stekelstaart	03/08/2016
Pacifastacus leniusculus	signal crayfish	écrevisse de Californie	signaalkreeft	03/08/2016
Perccottus glenii	Amur sleeper	goujon de l’amour	Amurgrondel	03/08/2016
Plotosus lineatus	striped eel catfish	poisson-chat rayé	gestreepte koraalmeerval	15/08/2019
Procambarus clarkii	red swamp crayfish	écrevisse rouge de marais	rode Amerikaanse rivierkreeft	03/08/2016
Procambarus virginalis (P. fallax f. virginalis)	marbled crayfish	écrevisse marbrée	marmerkreeft	03/08/2016
Procyon lotor	common raccoon	raton laveur	wasbeer	03/08/2016
Pseudorasbora parva	stone moroko	goujon asiatique	blauwband	03/08/2016
Sciurus carolinensis	grey squirrel	écureuil gris	grijze eekhoorn	03/08/2016
Sciurus niger	fox squirrel	écureuil fauve	Amerikaanse voseekhoorn	03/08/2016
Solenopsis geminata	tropical fire ant	fourmi de feu tropicale	tropische vuurmier, tabaks-mier	02/08/2022
Solenopsis invicta	red imported fire ant	fourmi de feu	rode vuurmier	02/08/2022
Solenopsis richteri	black imported fire ant	fourmi de feu noir	zwarte vuurmier	02/08/2022
Tamias sibiricus	Siberian chipmunk	tamia de Sibérie	Aziatische (gestreepte) grondeekhoorn	03/08/2016
Threskiornis aethiopicus	sacred ibis	ibis sacré	heilige ibis	03/08/2016
Trachemys scripta	red-eared, yellow-bellied and Cumberland sliders	tortue de Floride (T.s. elegans)	roodwang-, geelbuik- en geelwangschildpad	03/08/2016
Vespa velutina nigrithorax	Asian hornet	frelon asiatique	(donkere) Aziatische hoornaar	03/08/2016
Wasmannia auropunctata	cocoa tree-ant, electric ant, little introduced fire ant, little red fire ant, small fire ant and West Indian stinging ant	fourmi électrique, fourmi rouge, petit fourmi de feu	dwergvuurmier	02/08/2022

Factsheets for the animal species included in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. Each factsheet includes a short introduction to the specific IAS (taxonomic classification, native and invasive distribution, etc.) and information on the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequences to identify this IAS using DNA barcoding.