WISC - Washington Invasive Species Council

Featured Invasives

Asian Giant Hornet

Asian giant hornet is an invasive species from Asia and a known predator of honeybees. Though not typically aggressive to humans, they will attack anything that threatens their colonies, which usually nest in the ground. They can sting multiple times and have powerful venom that can inflict serious injury, or in some cases, death. In late summer through fall, hornets may attack honeybee colonies en masse, resulting in the complete destruction of a healthy colony in a matter of hours. The attack leaves piles of decapitated victims in front of the hive.

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Featured Invasives

Gypsy Moth

The gypsy moth is one of the worst American forest pest insects. It devours the leaves of more than 500 different species of trees and shrubs and causes enormous enormous damage to the environment and the economy. Most gypsy moths are brought to new areas by people, and Washington sees new introductions every year. Eradication efforts of the Washington State Department of Agriculture have presented gypsy moths from becoming established here. The department conducts annual surveys to locate new introductions.

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Featured Invasives

Quagga and Zebra Mussels

Zebra and quagga mussels are freshwater mollusks that colonize lakes and rivers. Their preferred habitats include the calm waters upstream of dams. They are most abundant on hard, particularly rocky surfaces. They're not in Washington, but they're only a day's drive away. They attach themselves to boats, so if someone uses a boat in an infected lake and then launches the boat in Washington waters, they could be introduced here. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has an early detection program, but everyone’s help is needed to spot them before they become a problem.

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Featured Invasives

Northern Pike

Northern pike are non-native predators of popular sportfish in Washington State. They are a prohibited species in Washington. They reproduce prolifically and primarily prey on fish smaller than themselves, including juveniles of other species. They have been introduced illegally and established populations in eastern Washington, in the Pend Oreille River, the Spokane River, Lake Roosevelt, and a couple of lakes in Spokane County. Recently, northern pike have also been found in Lake Washington after being illegally introduced.

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News

Public Asked to Protect Honey Bees by Reporting Sightings of the Invasive Asian Giant Hornet

OLYMPIA—As summer gets into full swing and people spend more time outside, state and federal officials and local beekeepers hope the public will keep their eyes open and report any sightings of Asian giant hornet. “When it comes to preventing and stopping a new invasive species, we all have a role to play and this […]

July 1, 2020Read More

Scotch Broom Census Set for May

OLYMPIA–The Washington Invasive Species Council, state agencies and researchers are calling for a census in May to help determine the location of Scotch broom throughout the state. “We need everyone’s help to size up the problem,” said Justin Bush, executive coordinator of the Washington Invasive Species Council. “Without baseline information about the location and population […]

April 28, 2020Read More

COVID-19 Update: Staff Working from Home

Staff of the Washington Invasive Species Council are working from their homes to help avoid the possible spread of the coronavirus. Our staff will be checking e-mails and telephone messages regularly. You may find contact information for staff online. We are working to continue normal operations as much as possible. Our employees are very mobile […]

March 31, 2020Read More

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Featured Invasives

Asian Giant Hornet

Featured Invasives

Gypsy Moth

Featured Invasives

Quagga and Zebra Mussels

Featured Invasives

Northern Pike

News

Public Asked to Protect Honey Bees by Reporting Sightings of the Invasive Asian Giant Hornet

Scotch Broom Census Set for May

COVID-19 Update: Staff Working from Home

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