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. Learn more about our process here.
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 – invertebrates, pathogens, and plants – are the species on which research can be funded through our 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 white paper, "Minnesota's Top Terrestrial Invasive Plants and Pests for Research: An Expanded Prioritization," outlines all prioritization methods and results. (NOTE: the species prioritization list and white paper has been updated as of January 2020 to reflect new information.)
Top-ranked invasive species in Minnesota
Plant pathogens
|
Scientific Name |
Common Name |
|---|---|
|
Aster yellows phytoplasma |
Aster yellows |
|
Ceratocystis fagacearum |
Oak wilt |
|
Cronartium ribicola |
White pine blister rust |
|
Geosmithia morbida |
Thousand cankers disease |
|
Globodera pallida; G. rostochiensis |
Potato cyst nematodes |
|
Heterobasidion irregulare |
Annosum root rot |
|
Heterodera latipons, H. filipjevi |
Cereal cyst nematodes |
|
Hymenoscyphus fraxineus |
Ash dieback |
|
Macrophomina phaseolina |
Charcoal rot |
|
Ophiostoma novo-ulmi |
Dutch elm disease |
|
Phyllachora maydis |
Corn tar spot |
|
Phytophthora ramorum |
Sudden oak death |
|
Raffaelea quercivora |
Japanese oak wilt |
|
Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3, biovar 2 |
Potato brown rot |
| Tilletia controversa (cereal strain) | Dwarf bunt of wheat |
Plants
| Scientific Name | Common Name | |
|---|---|---|
|
Amaranthus palmeri |
Palmer amaranth |
|
|
Berberis x ottawensis (B. thunbergii x B. vulgaris) |
Ottawa barberry |
|
|
Bromus inermis; Poa pratensis |
Cool season grasses (smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass) |
|
|
Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos; C. diffusa |
Knapweeds (spotted, diffuse) |
|
|
Cirsium arvense |
Canada thistle |
|
|
Euphorbia esula |
Leafy spurge |
|
|
Frangula alnus; Rhamnus cathartica |
Buckthorn (glossy, common) |
|
|
Gypsophila paniculata |
Baby’s breath |
|
|
Lonicera maackii; L. morrowii; L. tatarica; L. japonica |
Honeysuckles |
|
|
Lupinus polyphyllus |
Large-leaved lupine |
|
|
Microstegium vimineum |
Japanese stiltgrass |
|
|
Phragmites australis subsp. australis |
European common reed |
|
|
Robinia pseudoacacia |
Black locust |
|
|
Tanacetum vulgare |
Common tansy |
|
|
Typha x glauca; T. angustifolia |
Non-native cattails (hybrid, narrowleaf) |
|
Invertebrates
|
Scientific Name |
Common Name |
|---|---|
|
Agrilus plannipennis; A. biguttatus |
Flat-headed borers (emerald ash borer, oak splendor beetle) |
|
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 |
|
Lumbricus rubellus; Amynthas spp. |
Non-native earthworms (leaf worm, jumping worms) |
|
Lymantria dispar dispar; L. dispar asiatica |
Lymantria dispar moths (European, Asian) |
|
Popillia japonica |
Japanese beetle |
|
Scolytus schevyrewi; S. multistriatus |
Elm bark beetles (banded, European) |
|
Sirex noctilio |
Sirex woodwasp |
|
Spodoptera littoralis |
Egyptian cottonworm |
|
Tetropium fuscum |
Brown spruce longhorned beetle |
Submit a new species for evaluation
In effort to be responsive to new and emerging terrestrial invasive species, we conduct a biennial species prioritization process, which includes input from stakeholders. The results of this process inform our requests for research proposals. If you would like to submit a new species for evaluation, please fill out this survey.
Comment on an existing species evaluation
Researchers at the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center evaluate species of concern based on 17 criteria, including proximity to Minnesota, likelihood of causing harm, presence of hosts, and others. You can see the species MITPPC has already evaluated in this spreadsheet. Click on the link on each species' scientific name to see the evaluation form (for example, hybrid barberry).
If you wish to comment on the evaluations of these species, please fill out this form.