Midwestern Early Detection Plant Species
A regional early detection species is one that is either a) not yet present in the Midwest, but is prevalent and spreading in neighboring regions, or b) present in the Midwest in relatively small or isolated populations with high risk of further spread. We encourage people who spend a lot of time outdoors to become familiar with early detection species and to report sightings using tools like GLEDN and/or directly to local natural resources authorities. If land managers are made aware of new instances of these species soon after they arrive, they can take action to control and hopefully eradicate these populations before they become large in size.
MIPN has developed two "Keep a Lookout" fliers to acquaint the public with 32 early detection plant species, both terrestrial plants (pdf) and aquatics (pdf). State agencies and/or invasive plant councils often maintain lists of state-specific priority early detection species, which are linked below. We have also compiled some species-specific resources to help with identification and control recommendations for early detection species. Do you have a resource related to an early detection species that you'd like us to share? Please contact us.
State Early Detection Resources and Priority Lists
Defining early detection species on a regional level can be tricky. It is also valuable for people to know what species are new and spreading in their neck of the woods. State agencies and invasive plant councils are a great resource, as are any local CWMAs. Here are some state-wide resources that we have identified:
- Indiana Invasive Species Council - New Invasive Plants to Watch For, 2016 (pdf)
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources - Watch List, 2017 (pdf)
- Minnesota Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture - Keep a Lookout, 2017 (pdf)
- Missouri Invasive Plants Task Force - Emerging Invasive Plant Species in Missouri (pdf)
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Watch List, 2000 (pdf)
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - NR-40 List, 2015 (pdf)
- "Prohibited" and "Prohibited/Restricted" plants can be considered early detection species in WI
Species Specific Resources
(listed by habitat type and alphabetically by Latin name)
Terrestrial Species
- Japanese chaff flower (Achyranthes japonica)
- Purdue Extension Fact Sheet (pdf)
- River to River (IL) CWMA Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
- Narrowleaf bittercress (Cardamine impatiens)
- Asian bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
- MIPN Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Minnesota Partners Brochure (pdf)
- Wisconsin Extension Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)
- MIPN Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Minnesota Partners Knapweed Brochure (pdf)
- Wisconsin Extension Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Black swallow-wort (Cynanchum louiseae)
- Pale swallow-wort (Cynanchum rossicum)
- Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya)
- Cut-leaved teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)
- Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)
- MIPN Fact Sheet (pdf)
- United States Geological Survey Fact Sheet (pdf)
- United States Forest Service Management Guide (pdf)
- Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
- MIPN Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Wisconsin Extension Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Ontario Invasive Plant Council Best Management Practice Guide (pdf)
- Fig buttercup/Lesser celandine (Ficaria verna)
- Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
- Japanese hops (Humulus japonicus)
- Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
- Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)
- Mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata)
- Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)
- Japanese wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)
- Japanese hedge parsley (Torilis japonica)
- MIPN Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Wisconsin Extension Fact Sheet (pdf)
Aquatic Species
- Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)
- Pond water-starwort (Callitriche stagnalis)
- Swamp stone crop (Crassula helmsii)
- Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
- Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa)
- Reed manna grass (Glyceria maxima)
- Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
- European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)
- MIPN Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Technical Review (pdf)
- Great Lakes Invasives Network ID vs. native watershield (pdf)
- State of Michigan Profile
- Indian swampweed (Hygrophila polysperma)
- European water clover (Marsilea quadrifolia)
- Parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
- Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
- Brittle waternymph (Najas minor)
- Yellow floating hearts (Nymphoides peltata)
- MIPN Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Great Lakes Invasives Network ID vs. native yellow pond lily (pdf)
- GLANSIS Profile
- Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
- Water chestnut (Trapa natans)
