The global movement of ships is a major driver of marine invasive species. Vessels transport organisms on hulls, in ballast water, intake/outflow pipes, rudders, and thruster tunnels. This is known as biofouling and despite anti-fouling coatings and routine hull cleaning, vessel biofouling remains responsible for most marine invasions worldwide.

To improve monitoring, a group of Antarctic researchers tested environmental DNA (eDNA) as a complementary tool for detecting hull-associated species. eDNA consists of genetic material shed by organisms into the environment and can be collected from water, soil, or air for species identification. This approach is particularly valuable in hard-to-access niche areas of ships where biofouling may persist despite cleaning.

In this study, DNA was extracted from collected seawater using standard metabarcoding protocols and compared against reference databases to identify taxa present at each sampling site and sampling depth. Samples were collected before and after a 13-day voyage, as well as before, during, and after hull cleaning at the departure port. Divers also conducted a visual survey of all accessible biofouling areas along the hull, from bow to stern, prior to departure and upon arrival. A comparison of visual and eDNA results assessed the reliability of eDNA in detecting hull-associated species. v Before departure, eDNA analysis detected 41 taxa, compared to 24 taxa observed in the visual survey, including eight taxa that were only recorded visually. At the end of the voyage, eDNA detected 27 taxa, of which only 14 had been previously recorded, highlighting the continued risk of transporting marine species even after hull cleaning. Examples of taxa detected included bryozoans, tunicates, and filamentous algae, groups commonly associated with biofouling and capable of rapid establishment in new environments.

The sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions are among the few global areas without established non-native marine species. However, climate change and increasing human activity threaten this status. The study demonstrates that eDNA can enhance biofouling monitoring, detect potential invasive species early, and support biosecurity practices, complementing visual surveys and traditional hull cleaning. While eDNA may detect transient or non-viable DNA and relies on reference databases, it offers a sensitive, practical tool for protecting vulnerable polar marine ecosystems.

Read the research: Perry et al., 2026

Mirror Image Pheromones

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, is a major pest of crops, turfgrass, and forests and is prohibited from legal importation into the United States. In 1977, researchers discovered that female P. japonica release a sex pheromone, called japonilure, to attract males. Like many biological molecules, japonilure exists in two mirror-image forms, with a R-form that attracts males, and a S-form that acts as a behavioral antagonist, repelling them. A closely related scarab beetle, Anomala osakana, also uses japonilure as a sex pheromone, but in reverse: the S-form attracts males, and the R-form repels them. Because these species coexist in the same habitats, this system is thought to have evolved to prevent interspecific mating attempts. However, it remains unclear how the beetles distinguish between the two forms of the pheromone.

A recent study identified a third beetle species that uses japonilure to attract mates: the copper green chafer, Anomala corpulenta. Also an agricultural pest, A. corpulenta damages similar host plants as P. japonica, but its distribution is primarily restricted to Asia. The study found that A. corpulenta uses japonilure in a manner similar to the Japanese beetle: R-japonilure attracts males and S-japonilure repelling them. In addition to this, researchers identified two key receptor genes: one responds specifically to the R-form, while the other responds to both forms and shuts down the mating behavior response. Both receptors are required for full pheromone detection, revealing a more complex system for modulating mating responses.

To determine whether a comparable system exists in P. japonica, researchers examined its genome and identified three receptor genes. When expressed in frog cells, two receptors responded strongly to R-japonilure, while the third acted as an antagonist, repelling males, suggesting it may detect S-japonilure. These findings indicate that P. japonica uses a similar molecular system to signal potential mates while preventing unproductive interbreeding.

Understanding these shared molecular mechanisms could inform new management strategies for invasive species like the Japanese beetle. By targeting sex pheromone signaling, it may be possible to monitor and manipulate beetle behavior as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional trapping or indiscriminate chemical interventions. This approach could reduce pesticide use and enable more targeted, sustainable pest management practices.

Read the research: Wang et al., 2026

Don’t Mess With Texas Citrus

TISI is offering FREE diagnostic services if you suspect your citrus has either the psyllid pest or the Citrus Greening pathogen, or you would like your citrus plants to be part of our screening survey.

The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) and the Citrus Greening pathogen (Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus) are threatening citrus in multiple Texas counties. By taking samples and monitoring the spread, it is easier to ensure that you and your neighbors are not affected. This pest and pathogen are extremely detrimental to Texas citrus, both economically and agriculturally. The presence of either can greatly affect citrus yield.

If you are interested in having your citrus trees checked or being part of the survey, please contact invasives@shsu.edu. If you are located within 200 miles of our headquarters, we can collect samples and/or provide traps and monitoring services. Otherwise, we will send you easy step-by-step instructions so you can do it yourself. Not only will we share the results and management strategies (where applicable), but you will become part of a multi-county monitoring survey that is striving to improve the health of Texas citrus!

Also Available: TISI offers educational workshops that highlight information about the Asian citrus psyllid, the pathogen Citrus Greening, and what you need to look out for in your own backyard. If you are interested in this, TISI will provide trapping materials, assist with management strategies, and more. Don’t waste another second. Help us stop the spread!

This program is designed to provide the education needed for professionals and students who are managing or learning to manage invasive species. The courses include the most current invasive species identification, control, and management techniques, and how to comply with local and federal regulations.

Participants may register and enroll at any time, and will receive a certificate of invasive species management from NAISMA upon completion of the program.

All live webinars are open to the public. Recorded webinars are available to members of NAISMA.

NAISMA 2026 Webinar Schedule:

• March 18, 1pm CST- Invasive Grasses and Wildfire Risk in California: From Landscape Patterns to Restoration Solutions. REGISTER.
• April 15, 1pm CST- Shifting the Momentum on Feral Swine: National Leadership and Lessons from Missouri’s Success. REGISTER.

Sheep With Pink eye

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has issued a warning regarding a widespread outbreak of infectious keratoconjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, affecting invasive Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) populations in West Texas. The disease has caused severe eye infections and, in some cases, complete blindness.

The outbreak was first documented in December 2025 by TPWD’s Trans-Pecos Wildlife District. In February 2026, the agency released images of an infected Barbary sheep, also known as an aoudad, showing advanced symptoms of the disease. Affected individuals exhibit significant ocular discharge and clouding of the eyes, which can progress to permanent vision loss.

Barbary sheep are native to the mountainous regions of North Africa and were introduced to Texas for hunting purposes. Now widely established in West Texas, they are considered invasive due to their competition with native wildlife, including mule deer and desert bighorn sheep. Highly adaptable and often traveling in groups, Barbary sheep can also impact agricultural operations by grazing on wheat and other vegetation. Wildlife officials continue to monitor the outbreak to assess its ecological implications and potential effects on both invasive and native ungulate populations in the region.

If you believe you have seen Barbary sheep, please email a picture and the location it was found to invasives@shsu.edu.

The following invasive species removal opportunities and environmental workdays will be held throughout Texas this coming month:

March 3: Invasive Plant Big Pull Event — San Antonio
Organized by the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) to remove invasive plants.
Time: 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Location provided upon registration.
Additional information: HERE.

March 4: Invasive Plant Big Pull Event — San Antonio
Organized by the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) to remove invasive plants.
Time: 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Location: Headwaters Sanctuary.
Additional information: HERE.

March 7: Invasive Plant Big Pull Event — San Antonio
Organized by the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) to remove invasive plants.
Time: 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Location: Headwaters Sanctuary.
Additional information: HERE.

March 7, 11, 14, 21: North Texas Master Naturalist Workdays — Various Locations
The North Texas Master Naturalist calendar includes multiple volunteer opportunities throughout March, including Friends of Oak Cliff Workdays, Western Heights Cemetery Volunteer Days, and more.
Additional information: HERE.

March 14: Coastal Prairie Conservancy Workday — Waller
Held at the Indiangrass Preserve to manage and restore native prairie habitat.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Additional information: HERE.

March 14: Invasive Plant Pull and Garden Work Day — College Station
Volunteers will remove invasive plants and work in the demonstration garden at Lick Creek Park.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Additional information: HERE.

March 14: Arrowwood Preserve Invasive Removal — Pinehurst
Volunteers will remove invasive plants to support native wildlife habitat.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Additional information: HERE.

March 14: 2nd Saturday Habitat Workday — San Antonio
Hosted by Audubon Texas. Activities include habitat cleanup, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and native planting.
Time: 8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Additional information: HERE.

March 21: San Marcos River Invasive Species Removal — San Marcos
Hosted by the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF). Volunteers remove water hyacinth and other invasive species from the river and watershed (held the third Saturday of each month).
Time: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Additional information: HERE.

Invasive Spotlight:

Lehman’s Love Grass
(Eragrostis lehmanniana)

Lehman's lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) is an introduced perennial bunchgrass that grows approximately 1.5 to 2 feet (45–61 cm) in height. As a bunchgrass, it exhibits a tufted growth form with tall, wiry, sprawling stems arising from compact crowns. Numerous stem bases root at the nodes, allowing the species to spread and form open, and sometimes continuous, stands in which individual plants become difficult to distinguish. The leaves are short (2–6 inches), narrow (approximately 0.06 inch), slightly rough, and sometimes curl inward (involute). The plant produces loose, greenish-purple panicle flower clusters. Adapted to warm seasons, Lehman's lovegrass reseeds rapidly following disturbance and is highly competitive, often replacing native grasses over time in areas where it becomes established.

Its aggressive growth habit and ability to displace native species make it difficult to maintain native grasslands once invasion occurs. Its competitive advantage is partly attributed to low palatability during the summer growing season, which leads cattle to preferentially graze native grasses, reducing their vigor and allowing Lehman's lovegrass to expand. Additionally, it produces seed stalks early in the summer, enabling it to persist under grazing pressure. The species readily establishes new stands from seed following disturbance, further enhancing its spread.

Although Lehman's lovegrass provides some forage value for cattle, it has displaced many native grasses in regions where it is established. For example, it has replaced Arizona cottontop (Trichachne californica), threeawn grasses (Aristida spp.), and grama grasses (Bouteloua spp.) across much of the Santa Rita Experimental Range in Arizona.

Lehman's lovegrass is present in Texas, as well as AZ, CA, NM, OK, and UT. For more information regarding management and removal, see the texasinvasives.org info page HERE. If you believe you have found Lehman’s love grass, please email a picture and the location it was found to invasives@shsu.edu.

Enjoy monthly videos about invasive species and/or people willing to teach us more about them. There are some amazing citizens and professionals around the world that poke, prod, chase, dive, and investigate everything they can about these alien invaders. Jump into this cinematic rabbit hole. You never know what new wonders you may discover.

Strategic Approaches to Invasive Plant Management. Connecticut Land Conservation Council.

This session explores how one can construct a strategic invasive plant management plan. This webinar covers frameworks for prioritization, how to identify high priority habitats, targeting early infestations, identifying important environmental and ecological aspects, and exploring cases where leaving some invasives in place may be more practical than actively managing.

From Pest to Profit: All About Invasive Species! WWF Wild Classroom.

Learn about invasive species with a WWF Market Institute team member. Follow along as innovative, profitable alternatives to invasive species are explored, as well as some surprising facts and strategies for how we can tackle this threat to biodiversity.

Florida researchers use AI traps to catch invasive tegu reptiles. FOX 13 Tampa Bay.

University of Florida researchers are using AI smart trap to catch invasive Argentine black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae) for study. Smart traps have reduced labor cost and bycatch. Researchers hope to use AI smart traps to catch other invasive lizards and protect native wildlife.

Tiny Pests Are Destroying American Rice Fields. It's Another Hit for Farmers
The invasive rice delphacid (Tagosodes orizicolus) has devastated rice crops in the US. With approved pesticides proving to be largely ineffective and production costs rising, Texas farmers fear they will soon face financial instability. kcur.org

Florida Officials Warn Residents About Dangerous Invasive Reptile in the State, And It's Not a Python or Iguana
Florida wildlife officials are urging residents to watch for the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus), the largest invasive lizard established in the US. Additional sightings have been reported in Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. people.com

Researchers Create DNA Detection Tool to Stop Spread of Invasive Asian Swamp Eels, Bullseye Snakeheads
Researchers have developed a DNA-based test that detects invasive species, including the Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) and the bullseye snakehead (Channa marulius), by identifying genetic traces left behind in water. news.ufl.edu

Realizing and Assessing Social Successes in Invasive Species Management
Invasive species management often emphasizes ecological and economic outcomes while overlooking social processes, costs, and benefits. Effective strategies may benefit from prioritizing diversity and social justice, learning from past failures, and acknowledging social relationships. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Subjects Of Justice: Rethinking Invasive Weeds Through Multispecies Justice
Although invasive species are often viewed solely as threats to biodiversity, in some contexts they can contribute to the formation of novel ecosystems. Applying a multi-species justice framework may help balance concerns about nativeness with the potential benefits invasive species provide in shared urban environments. nature.com

Global Footprint of Wildlife Trade Highlights Biodiversity Threats
A new study finds the $360 billion legal wildlife trade is vastly under-monitored, with many species taken from the wild and potentially pushed toward extinction. Researchers warn that insufficient data and weak oversight create significant biodiversity and biosecurity risks. phys.org

Invasive Termites Threatening Homes in Florida Are Spreading Farther Than Predicted
A new study from the University of Florida has found that two highly destructive invasive termite species, Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) and Asian subterranean termite (C. gestroi), are spreading beyond the coastal areas of Florida at an accelerated rate. news.ufl.edu

How Cities Primed Spotted Lanternflies to Thrive in the US
Genetics reveal how the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) has evolved in China and the US to tolerate urban factors like heat, pollution, and pesticides. Adaptation to urbanization may be influencing the spread throughout new environments. NYU.edu

Scientists Find Invasive Pests Outpacing Research in the Southeast
A warming climate, a thriving plant nursery industry, and large-scale importation has created ideal conditions for pests to be introduced and become establish, especially in the southeastern US. news.clemson.edu

Call Me Invasive: New Evidence Confirms the Status of the Giant Asian Mantis in Europe
Two Asian mantis species, Hierodula tenuidentata and H. patellifera, have been recognized as invasive species in Europe. Their rapid reproduction and predation on native insects and small vertebrates is threatening local biodiversity. Researchers warn that urban environments are aiding their spread. blog.pensoft.net

Invaders of Texas workshops train volunteers to detect and report invasive species as citizen scientists. Workshops, which are free, are designed to introduce participants to invasive species and the problems they cause, cover aspects of invasive species management, teach identification of local invasive plants, and train participants to report invasive plants using the TX Invaders mobile application. The workshop is 7 hours long (usually on a Saturday, but scheduling is arranged with each individual host group). The workshop satisfies Master Naturalist training requirements.

Sentinel Pest Network workshops serve to increase the awareness and early detection of a set of particularly important invasive species to help prevent their spread into Texas or their further spread within Texas. Participants learn to identify species such as the Emerald Ash Borer, Cactus Moth, Asian Longhorned Beetle, and other pests of regulatory significance, and to report them. The workshop is 3.5 hours long. The workshop satisfies Master Naturalist training requirements.