Invasive Species Early Detection Clearinghouse
Early detection lists
A goal of the Wisconsin First Detectors Network (WIFDN) is to direct professionals and volunteers in early detection of invasive species. Below is a clearinghouse of lists with links to factsheets and known distribution* of the most important early detection plants, insects, plant diseases, and animals.
University of Wisconsin Extension experts are most concerned about the spread of these organisms and preventing their establishment in Wisconsin. WIFDN recommends learning how to identify these species to help the state with reporting observations that will inform management.
These lists represent a combination of high consequence and early detection species.
Jump to list:
Click common names for ID resources and map links to find distribution information.
Lists are current as of April 2025.*
*Note: These species tend to be unknown or underreported so maps are by nature incomplete. We request professionals and participatory scientists scout and make records at Eddmaps.org or other channels as requested in the linked description pages.
Terrestrial plants
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Scientific Name | Common Name | Maps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Ailanthus altissima |
tree-of-heaven | link |
| 35 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Conium maculatum |
poison hemlock | link |
| 36 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Ficaria verna |
lesser celandine | link |
| 37 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Glyceria maxima |
tall manna grass | link |
| 38 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Humulus japonicus |
Japanese hops | link |
| 39 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Microstegium vimineum |
Japanese stiltgrass | link |
| 40 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Phellodendron amurense |
Amur corktree | link |
| 41 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
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Pyrus calleryana |
Callery pear | link |
| 42 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Thladiantha dubia |
goldencreeper/red hailstone | link |
| 43 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Vincetoxicum nigrum |
black swallowwort | link |
| 44 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 12:03 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Heracleum mantegazzianum |
giant hogweed | link |
Aquatic plants
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Scientific Name | Common Name | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Didymosphenia geminata |
Didymo | link |
| 57 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Egeria densa |
Brazilian waterweed | link |
| 58 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Eichhornia crassipes |
water hyacinth | link |
| 59 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Reynoutria or Fallopia spp. |
invasive knotweeds | link |
| 60 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Hydrilla verticillata |
hydrilla | link |
| 61 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae |
European frog-bit | link |
| 62 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Myriophyllum spicatum |
Eurasian watermilfoil | link |
| 63 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Nitellopsis obtusa |
starry stonewort | link |
| 64 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Nymphoides peltata |
yellow floating heart | link |
| 65 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Phragmites australis ssp. australis |
Phragmites or common reed | link |
| 66 | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM | mrwallrath | 02/07/2025 04:11 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Trapa natans |
water chesnut | link |
Insects
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Scientific Name | Common Name | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Lycorma delicatula |
spotted lanternfly | link |
| 26 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Anoplophora glabripennis |
Asian longhorned beetle | link |
| 27 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Pyrrhalta viburni |
Viburnum leaf beetle | link |
| 28 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Lilioceris lilii |
lily leaf beetle | link |
| 29 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Lymantria dispar |
spongy moth | link |
| 30 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Cydalima perspectalis |
box tree moth | link |
| 31 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Aproceros leucopoda |
elm zigzag sawfly | link |
| 32 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Fiorinia externa |
elongate hemlock scale | link |
| 33 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Adelges tsugae |
hemlock woolly adelgid | link |
| 34 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Adelges piceae |
Balsam woolly adelgid | link |
| 35 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Depressaria depressana |
purple carrot seed moth | link |
| 36 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:16 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Arocatus melanocephalus |
elm seed bug | link |
Diseases
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Scientific Name | Common Name | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Phytophthora ramorum |
Ramorum blight or sudden oak death | link |
| 13 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Bretziella fagacearum |
oak wilt | link |
| 14 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Gymnosporangium yamadae |
red star rust | N/A |
| 15 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Calonectria pseudonaviculata |
boxwood blight | link |
| 16 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Geosmithia morbida |
thousand cankers disease | link |
| 17 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Phytophthora austrocedri |
juniper root rot | N/A |
| 18 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Litylenchus crenatae ssp. mcannii |
beech leaf disease | link |
| 19 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Tubakia iowensis |
bur oak blight | link |
| 20 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Phytoplasma (aster yellows) |
aster yellows | N/A |
| 21 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Phytoplasma (ashy yellows) |
phytoplasma ash yellows | N/A |
| 22 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Agroathelia rolfsii (Sclerotium rolfsii) |
Southern blight | N/A |
| 23 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 11:10 AM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Phytophthora infestnas |
late blight | N/A |
Animals
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Scientific Name | Common Name | Maps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Bithynia tentaculata |
faucet snail | <a href="https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/our-work/focus-areas/ais/invasive-species/invasive-species-fact-sheets/mollusks/faucet-snail/#:~:text=The%20faucet%20snail%20is%20a,ducks%20in%20Minnesota%20and%20Wisconsin." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" |
| 44 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Bythotrephes longimanus |
spiny water flea | link |
| 45 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Channa argus |
northern snakehead | link |
| 46 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Corbicula fluminea |
freshwater golden clam | link |
| 47 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Dreissena polymorpha |
zebra mussel | link |
| 48 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Dreissena rostriformis bugensis |
quagga mussel | link |
| 49 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Gymnocephalus cernuus |
Eurasian ruffe | link |
| 50 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Bithynia tentaculata |
carp spp. | link |
| 51 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Faxonius rusticus |
rusty crayfish | link |
| 52 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Petromyzon marinus |
sea lamprey | link |
| 53 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Potamopyrgus antipodarum |
New Zealand mud snail | link |
| 54 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Procambarus clarkii |
red swamp crayfish | link |
| 55 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Sus scrofa |
feral swine | link |
| 56 | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM | mrwallrath | 01/07/2025 03:47 PM |
.italic-text {
font-style: italic;
}
Trachemys scripta elegans |
red-eared sliders</a | link |
Thanks to Mark Renz, Matt Wallrath and John Zaborsky (terrestrial plants and animals, contact: mrwallrath@wisc.edu), Paul Skawinski (aquatic plants and animals, pskawins@uwsp.edu), PJ Liesch (insects, pliesch@wisc.edu), and Brian Hudelson (diseases, hudelson@wisc.edu) for consulting on species and adding links to these lists.
For more on a topic visit:
Terrestrial plants – Renz Weed Science plant ID
Aquatic plants and animals – Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring
Insects – UW Insect Diagnostic Lab
Diseases – Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic
Animals – APHIS Wildlife Operational Activities
*Note: These species tend to be underreported so maps are incomplete. We request professionals and participatory scientists scout and make records at Eddmaps.org or other channels as requested in the linked description pages.