Prioritizing terrestrial invasive species threats in Minnesota
The Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants & Pests Center (MITPPC) is committed to fair, accurate and responsive assessment of the invasive species landscape in our state in determining where research can make a difference. A prioritized funding model helps make the greatest impact with finite resources.
How species ranking works
To determine which pests posed immediate threats, MITPPC undertook an expansive evaluation process. It convened 15 expert panelists, who initially identified 124 significant invasive species threatening our state. This panel also identified 17 criteria that could be used to rate species in an objective, computerized ranking system. Criteria included factors like environmental and economic impact, ability to establish and spread and proximity to the state. The top 15 most highly rated pests in each category – insect, pathogen and plant – inform the MITPPC annual Request for Proposal process. Rankings are updated regularly, no later than every other year or as new threats emerge on a more urgent basis.
The full whitepaper, "Minnesota's Top Terrestrial Invasive Plants and Pests for Research: An Expanded Prioritization," (.pdf) outlines all prioritization methods and results. (NOTE: the species prioritization list and whitepaper has been updated as of January 2020 to reflect new information.)
Top Invasive Threats
(click to expand)
Insects
Scientific name (A-Z) | Common name |
---|---|
Agrilus planipennis, A. biguttatus | Flatheaded borers (emerald ash borer, two-spotted oak borer) |
Amynthas spp. | Jumping worms |
Anoplophora glabripennis | Asian longhorned beetle |
Aphis glycines | Soybean aphid |
Dendroctonus ponderosae | Mountain pine beetle |
Drosophila suzukii | Spotted wing drosophila |
Eupoecilia ambiguella | European grape berry moth |
Halyomorpha halys | Brown marmorated stink bug |
Helicoverpa armigera | Old world bollworm |
Lymantria dispar dispar, L. dispar asiatica | Gypsy moth (European, Asian) |
Popillia japonica | Japanese beetle |
Scolytus schevyrewi, S. multistriatus | Elm bark beetle (banded, smaller European) |
Sirex noctillo | Sirex woodwasp |
Spodoptera littoralis | Egyptian cotton leafworm |
Tetropium fuscum | Brown spruce longhorned beetle |
Pathogens
Scientific name (A-Z) | Common name |
---|---|
Aster yellow phytoplasma | Aster yellows |
Bretziella (formerly Certatocystis) fagacearum | Oak wilt |
Cronartium ribicola | White pine blister rust |
Fusarium viguliforme | Soybean sudden death |
Geosmithia morbida | Thousand cankers disease |
Potato cyst nematodes | |
Heterobasidion irregulare | Annosus root rot |
Cereal cyst nematodes | |
Hymenoscyphus fraxineaus | Ash dieback |
Ophiostoma novo-ulmi | Dutch elm disease |
Phyllacora maydis | |
Phytophthora ramorum | Sudden oak death |
Raffaelea quercivora | Japanese oak wilt |
Ralstonia solanacearum (Race 3, biovar 2) | Potato brown rot |
Tilletia controversa | Dwarf bunt of wheat |
Plants
Scientific name (A-Z) | Common name |
---|---|
Ailanthus altissima | |
Amaranthus palmeri | Palmer amaranth |
Berberis x ottawensis | |
Centaurea stoebe subsp. microanthos, C. diffusa | Knapweeds (spotted, diffuse) |
Cirsium arvense | Canada thistle |
Cotoneaster lucidus | |
Euphorbia esula | Leafy spurge |
Frangula alnus, Rhamnus cathartica | Buckthorn (glossy, common) |
Gypsophila paniculata | |
Lonicera spp. (L. maackii, L. morrowii, L. tatarica, L. japonica) | Honeysuckles |
Lupinus polyphyllus | |
Microstegium vimineum | |
Phragmites australis subsp. australis | European common reed |
Tanacetum vulgare | Common tansy |
Typha angustifolia |
Header image credit:
"Deco Flash" by Portraying Life, LLC is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0