Minnesota’s top terrestrial invasive plants and pests for research: an expanded prioritization

Abstract

The Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center has prioritized 168 terrestrial invasive species that are significant threats to the forests, prairies, wetlands, and agriculture within Minnesota. The highest-priority threats are eligible for research funded by MITPPC.

Among insects and earthworms, eligible species are (1) Dendroctonus ponderosae; (2) Agrilus planipennis and A. biguttatus; (3) Aphis glycines; (4) Amynthas spp.; (5) Lymantria dispar dispar and L. dispar asiatica (6) Halyomorpha halys; (7) Scolytus schevyrewi and S. multistriatus; (8) Popillia japonica; (9) Anoplophora glabripennis; (10) Eupoecilia ambiguella; (11) Helicoverpa armigera; (12) Sirex noctilio; (13) Drosophila suzukii; (14) Spodoptera littoralis; and (15) Tetropium fuscum. Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, became eligible after new information was considered in the assessment.

Among plant pathogens, eligible species are (1) Ophiostoma novo-ulmi; (2) Ceratocystis fagacearum; (3) Raffaelea quercivora; (4) Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis; (5) Heterobasidion irregulare; (6) Heterodera latipons and H. filipjevi; (7) Phytophthora ramorum; (8) Geosmithia morbida; (9) Phyllachora maydis, (10) Aster yellows phytoplasma; (11) Ralstonia solanacearum, Race 3, biovar 2; (12) Cronartium ribicola; (13) Hymenoscyphus fraxineus; (14) Tilletia controversa (cereal strain); and (15) Fusarium virguliforme. Corn tar spot caused by Phyllachora maydis was detected in Minnesota for the first time in 2019 and assessed by MITPPC in the same year.

Among plants, eligible species are (1) Typha angustifolia; (2) Lonicera maackii, L. morrowii, L. tatarica, and L. japonica; (3) Berberis x ottawensis; (4) Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos and C. diffusa; (5) Tanacetum vulgare; (6) Frangula alnus and Rhamnus cathartica; (7) Phragmites australis subsp. australis; (8) Gypsophila paniculata; (9) Lupinus polyphyllus; (10) Cirsium arvense; (11) Microstegium vimineum; (12) Cotoneaster lucidus; (13) Ailanthus altissima; (14) Amaranthus palmeri; and (15) Euphorbia esula. Narrowleaf cattail, Typha angustifolia, Amur honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii, Japanese honeysuckle, L. japonica, a barberry hybrid, Berberis x ottawensis, diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa, baby’s breath, Gypsophila paniculata, Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum, large- leaved lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus, hedge cotoneaster, Cotoneaster lucidus, and tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima were newly nominated since the previous assessment.

This ranking of terrestrial invasive species threats is the most extensive regionally and to our knowledge is second only to national rankings prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture.