Invasive Alien Species (IAS) factsheets

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). In order 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 a EU Regulation (2016/1141), which provides for a set of measures to be taken across all member states.

In order 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:

  1. a short introduction to the specific IAS, compiling information on its classification, as well as its native and invasive distribution;
  2. 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.

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

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

Click here for factsheets of Invasive Flatworm species in Europe.

 PLANTS

  Scientific name English name French name Dutch name Entry into force
  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
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

ANIMALS

  Scientific name English name French name Dutch name Entry into force
  Acridotheres tristis common myna martin triste treurmaina 15/08/2019
Alopochen aegyptiaca (Alopochen aegyptiacus) Egyptian goose ouette d’Egypte nijlgans 02/08/2017
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
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 virilis        (Orconectes virilis) virile crayfish écrevisse à pinces bleues  geknobbelde Amerikaanse rivierkreeft  03/08/2016
Herpestes javanicus      (H.j. auropunctatus) small Asian mongoose mangouste Indische mangoest 03/08/2016
Lepomis gibbosus pumpkinseed perche soleil zonnebaars 15/08/2019
Lithobates catesbeianus American bullfrog grenouille-taureau  Amerikaanse stierkikker  03/08/2016
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
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

Please use the following citations:

- For the IAS web page as a whole
Barcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern, 2019. Invasive Alien Species (IAS) factsheets. BopCo, Belgium. Available from: www.bopco.myspecies.info/content/invasive-alien-species-ias-factsheets, accessed on DD-MM-YYYY.

- For an individual factsheet
See at the end of each factsheet.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith