Invasive Species are Bugging
Me!
“Waiter, what’s this fly doing in my soup?”
“Looks like the backstroke, sir.”
THE BIG QUESTION:

Why are invasive species an environmental
problem here in Pennsylvania?
What are INVASIVE SPECIES?

Organisms that are brought from another
ecosystem, overpopulate quickly, and
cause harm to the environment, human
health, or the economy
Why are they a problem?



Have no natural predators in their new
ecosystem
Crowd out and compete with NATIVE
species for resources (food, water, etc)
Cost $138 BILLION in damage per year!
Invasive Species harm humans!

The sap of the
GIANT
HOGWEED
causes painful
blistering when
exposed to the sun.
Pests Threaten Biodiversity
They take over
and outgrow
the native
plants.
This is purple
loosestrife
Don’t be fooled by its pretty looks! This
weed is a pest!
Pests Destroy Ecosystems
and Cause Disease
These puddles
were caused by
wild pigs in
Hawaii.
They erode the
soil and attract
mosquitoes that
may carry
malaria
They Cause Property
Damage!
ZEBRA
MUSSELS clog
drainage and intake
pipes
How do they get here?

Some get here on purpose:



Used for landscaping
Exotic pet that gets abandoned
Tribute to Shakespeare!?
Tribute FAIL



100 European starlings were
brought to Central Park between
1890-1891 as a tribute to
Shakespeare and his works.
Now there are over 200
MILLION across the entire US!
A flock of starlings once flew into
a jet plane engine, causing a plane
crash, killing 62 people!
How else do they get here?

By accident



Aquatic animals get transported via ballast
water in cargo ships
Wood-boring insects hide inside wood
shipping crates
Seeds ‘hitch-hike” in tire or shoe treads
This
diagram
explains
what ballast
water is. Do
you see how
invasive
species can
be
transported?
Examples of Invasive Species
Threatening PA Ecosystems

PLANTS




Kudzu
Purple loosestrife
Giant Hogweed
Multi flora Rose

ANIMALS



Asian Longhorned beetle
Northern
snakehead
Zebra mussel
So what can we do about them?
What is the solution for Invasive
Species?
Integrated Pest Management
(IPM)


A SUSTAINABLE way of dealing
with pests that does not harm the
environment.
Emphasizes PREVENTION, using
harmful chemical pesticides as the last
option
IPM “PYRAMID”
Last choice
PESTICIDE
Use a chemical or
poison to kill it
(weed killer, bug
spray)
PREDATOR
Get another living thing to kill
or eat it
PHYSICAL
Remove the pests by hand
PREVENTION
Stop pests from getting there in the first place
1st
choice
Is this an invasive species?
DO NOW!


Using the IPM pyramid, develop a plan to
get control mice in your home.
Write your answer on your summary sheet.
IPM “PYRAMID” for mice
Last choice
PESTICIDE
PREDATOR
PHYSICAL
PREVENTION
1st
choice
Now it’s your Turn!


Research one invasive species that
threatens PA ecosystems
Present your findings to the class using one
of these formats:



“Wanted Poster”
Powerpoint Google doc
Class wiki page entry
What you must include






Common name(s) of the invasive species
Scientific name, written correctly
Written description and/or picture
How it got here
Why it is invasive/what damage it causes
What IPM methods are used to control it