Invasive Alien Species in Europe
Non-native species introduced into Europe, whether by accident or deliberately, can be of policy concern. As a consequence of their presence, ecosystems can be disrupted, crops and livestock can be affected, and vector-borne diseases or parasites might be introduced. Non-native species causing such adverse effects are called invasive alien species (IAS). To protect native biodiversity and ecosystems, and to mitigate the potential impact on human health and socio-economic activities, the issue of IAS is tackled in Europe by an EU Regulation (2016/1141), which provides for a set of measures to be taken across all member states.
DNA-based species identifications
To implement the proposed actions, accurate species identifications are required. Since morphology-based species identifications are not always possible (e.g. cryptic species, trace material, early life-stages), BopCo evaluates the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequence data to reliably identify the plant and animal species included in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. The results of these evaluations are presented as factsheets (one per IAS) compiled using publicly available DNA sequence data and information aggregated from various sources.
Each factsheet consists of two parts:
- a short introduction to the specific IAS, compiling information on its classification, as well as its native and invasive distribution
- an investigation with respect to the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequences to identify this IAS using DNA barcoding
The BopCo factsheets aim to inform policy makers and provide relevant authorities with an identification and detection tool for the verification of suspected IAS samples.
Additional information
For further information about the applied approach and materials and methods, please consult the document “Identifying IAS based on DNA barcoding using currently available sequence data: details on applied material and methods”. For more information concerning the factsheets or how to send samples for analyses, please contact BopCo directly.
Currently, the factsheets cover the plants and animals listed in the original regulation (2016/1141) and the first update (2017/1263). Clicking on the respective pdf-icon 
will give access to the factsheet compiled by BopCo.
Additionally, BopCo compiled separate factsheets of invasive flatworms in Europe.
Citation
– For the IAS Factsheets web page as a whole:
BopCo – Barcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern. 2024. Invasive alien species (IAS) factsheets. BopCo. Belgium. Available from: https://bopco.be/output/iasfactsheets, accessed on DD-MM-YYYY.
– For an individual IAS factsheet:
See at the end of each factsheet.
Plants
| Factsheet | Scientific species name | English species name | French species name | Dutch species name | Start date EU regulation | DNA ID possible? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acacia mearnsi | black wattle, late black wattle or green wattle | acacia noir | zwarte wattle | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Acacia saligna | golden wreath wattle | mimosa à feuilles de saule | wilgacacia | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Ailanthus altissima | tree of heaven | ailante glanduleux | hemelboom | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Alternanthera philoxeroides | alligator weed | herbe à alligator | alligatorkruid | 02/08/2017 | Difficult (ITS) |
| Andropogon virginicus | broomsedge bluestem | barbon de Virginie | Amerikaans bezemgras | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Asclepias syriaca | common milkweed | herbe à coton | zijdeplant | 02/08/2017 | Difficult (ITS) |
| Baccharis halimifolia | eastern baccharis | baccharide à feuilles d’halime | struikaster | 03/08/2016 | No |
| Broussonetia papyrifera | paper mulberry | mûrier à papier, mûrier d’Espagne, broussonétia à papier | papiermoerbei | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Cabomba caroliniana | Carolina fanwort | cabomba de Caroline | waterwaaier | 03/08/2016 | Yes (trnH-psbA) |
| Cardiospermum grandiflorum | balloon vine | vigne ballon | ballonrank | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Cenchrus setaceus | crimson fountaingrass | herbe aux écouvillons pourpres | fraai lampenpoetsergras | 02/08/2017 | Yes (ITS2) |
| Cortaderia jubata | purple pampas grass | herbe de la pampa pourpre | hoog pampagras | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Crassula helmsii | swamp stonecrop, New Zealand pigmyweed | crassule de helms | watercrassula, waternaaldkruid | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Delairea odorata | cape ivy, German ivy, parlor ivy, italian ivy | séneçon grimpant, lierre d’Allemagne | klimopkruiskruid | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Ehrharta calycina | perennial veldtgrass | ehrharte calicinale | roze rimpelgras | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Elodea nuttallii | Nuttall’s waterweed | elodée de Nuttall | smalle waterpest | 02/08/2017 | Difficult (trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF) |
| Gunnera tinctoria | Chilean rhubarb | rhubarbe géante du Chili | mammoetblad | 02/08/2017 | Yes (ITS) |
| Gymnocoronis spilanthoides | Senegal tea plant | faux hygrophile | smalle theeplant | 15/08/2019 | No |
| Heracleum mantegazzianum | giant hogweed | berce de Caucase | reuzenbereklauw | 02/08/2017 | No |
| Heracleum persicum | Persian hogweed | berce de Perse | Perzische berenklauw | 03/08/2016 | No |
| Heracleum sosnowskyi | Sosnowsky’s hogweed | berce de Sosnowskyi | Sosnowsky’s berenklauw | 03/08/2016 | No |
| Humulus scandens | Japanese hop | houblon du Japon | oosterse hop | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Hydrocotyle ranunculoides | floating pennywort | hydrocotyle flottante | grote waternavel | 03/08/2016 | Difficult (MatK) |
| Impatiens glandulifera | Indian balsam | balsamine de l’Himalaya | reuzenbalsemien | 02/08/2017 | Yes (ITS) |
| Koenigia polystachya | Himalayan knotweed, cultivated knotweed | renouée de l’Himalaya, renouée à nombreux épis | Afghaanse duizendknoop | 02/08/2022 | Yes (ITS) |
| Lagarosiphon major | curly waterweed | elodée à feuilles alternes | verspreidbladige waterpest | 03/08/2016 | Difficult (RbcL) |
| Lespedeza cuneata | Chinese bushclover | lespedeza soyeux | Chinese struikklaver | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Ludwigia grandiflora | water-primrose | jussie à grandes fleurs | grote waterteunisbloem | 03/08/2016 | No |
| Ludwigia peploides | floating primrose-willow | jussie rampante | kleine waterteunisbloem | 03/08/2016 | No |
| Lygodium japonicum | vine-like fern | fougère grimpante du Japon | Japanse klimvaren | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Lysichiton americanus | American skunk cabbage | lysichite | moerasaronskelk | 03/08/2016 | Yes (TrnL-trnF) |
| Microstegium vimineum | Japanese stiltgrass | herbe à échasses japonaise | Japans steltgras | 02/08/2017 | Yes (ITS) |
| Myriophyllum aquaticum | Brazilian watermilfoil | myriophylle du Brésil | parelvederkruid | 03/08/2016 | Yes (ITS, MatK) |
| Myriophyllum heterophyllum | broadleaf watermilfoil | myriophylle à feuilles variées | ongelijkbladig vederkruid | 02/08/2017 | Yes (ITS) |
| Nanozostera japonica | Japanese eelgrass, dwarf eelgrass | Japans dwergzeegras | 17/07/2025 | |||
| Parthenium hysterophorus | whitetop weed | fausse camomille | schijnambrosia | 03/08/2016 | Yes (ITS2) |
| Pontederia crassipes | water hyacinth | eichhornie commune | gewone waterhyacint | 03/08/2016 | No |
| Persicaria perfoliata | Asiatic tearthumb | renouée perfoliée | gestekelde duizendknoop | 03/08/2016 | Yes (trnL-trnF, ITS2, matK) |
| Prosopis juliflora | mesquite | bayahonde | mesquite | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Pueraria montana var. lobata (Pueraria lobata) | kudzu vine | puéraire hirsute | kudzu | 03/08/2016 | Difficult (rps16, trnH-psbA and 5S) |
| Reynoutria japonica | Japanese knotweed, Asian knotweed | renouée du Japon, renouée à feuilles pointues | Japanse duizendknoop | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Reynoutria sachalinensis | giant knotweed, Sakhalin knotweed | renouée de Sakhaline | Sachalinse duizendknoop | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Reynoutria × bohemica | bohemian knotweed | renouée de bohême | basterdduizendknoop, boheemse duizendknoop | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Salvinia molesta | salvinia moss | salvinie géante | grote vlotvaren | 15/08/2019 | Difficult (atpB, rps4 and trnL) |
| Triadica sebifera | Chinese tallow | arbre à suif | talgboom | 15/08/2019 |
Factsheets for the plant species included in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. Each factsheet includes a short introduction to the specific IAS (taxonomic classification, native and invasive distribution, etc.) and information on the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequences to identify this IAS using DNA barcoding.
Animals
| Factsheet | Scientific species name | English species name | French species name | Dutch species name | Start date EU regulation | DNA ID possible? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acridotheres cristatellus | crested myna, Chinese starling | martin huppé | kuifmaina | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Acridotheres tristis | common myna | martin triste | treurmaina | 15/08/2019 | ||
| Alopochen aegyptiaca (Alopochen aegyptiacus) | Egyptian goose | ouette d’Egypte | nijlgans | 02/08/2017 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Ameiurus melas | black bullhead | poisson-chat | zwarte (Amerikaanse) dwergmeerval | 02/08/2022 | Difficult (COI, Cytb) |
| Arthurdendyus triangulatus | New Zealand flatworm | ver plat de Nouvelle-Zélande | Nieuw-Zeelandse platworm | 15/08/2019 | No |
| Asterias amurensis | Northern Pacific seastar, Japanese common starfish | Noord-Atlantische zeester | 17/07/2025 | |||
| Axis axis | chital | 02/08/2022 | ||||
| Bipalium kewense | hammerhead flatworm | verplat à tête de marteau | hamerhoofdplatworm | 17/07/2025 | Difficult (COI) |
| Brachyponera chinensis | Asian needle ant | 17/07/2025 | ||||
| Callosciurus erythraeus | Pallas’ squirrel | ecureuil à ventre rouge | Pallas eekhoorn | 03/08/2016 | No |
| Callosciurus finlaysonii | Finlayson’s squirrel, variable squirrel | ecureuil de Finlayson | Finlaysonklappereekhoorn, Thaise eekhoorn | 02/08/2022 | No |
| Castor canadensis | North American beaver | castor du Canada | Canadese bever of Noord-Amerikaanse bever | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Cervus nippon | sika deer | cerf sika, sika, cerf du Japon | sikahert | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Channa argus | amur snakehead, northern snakehead, ocellated snakehead | poisson à tête de serpent du Nord | noordelijke slangekopvis | 02/08/2022 | Yes (COI, Cytb, ND2) |
| Cherax destructor | common yabby | L’écrevisse de Murray, yabby | gewone yabby | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Cipangopaludina chinensis | Chinese mystery snail, black snail, trapdoor snail | vivipare chinoise | 17/07/2025 | |||
| Corvus splendens | Indian house crow | corbeau d’Inde | huiskraai | 03/08/2016 | Yes (ND2) |
| Eriocheir sinensis | Chinese mittencrab | crabe chinois | Chinese wolhandkrab | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Faxonius immunis | calico crayfish, papershell crayfish | calicotrivierkreeft | 17/07/2025 | |||
| Faxonius limosus (Orconectes limosus) | spiny-cheek crayfish | écrevisse américaine | gevlekte rivierkreeft | 03/08/2016 | Yes (16S, COI) |
 | Faxonius rusticus | rusty crayfish | écrevisse à taches rouges | NA | 02/08/2022 | Yes (COI) |
| Faxonius virilis (Orconectes virilis) | virile crayfish | écrevisse à pinces bleues | geknobbelde Amerikaanse rivierkreeft | 03/08/2016 | Difficult (COI) |
| Fundulus heteroclitus | Mummichog | Choquemort | NA | 02/08/2024 | Yes (COI, CR) |
| Gambusia affinis | western mosquitofish | gambusie de l’ouest | muskietenvisje | 02/08/2022 | Difficult (Cytb, COI and ND2) |
| Gambusia holbrooki | eastern mosquitofish | gambusie de l’est | oostelijk muskietenvisje | 02/08/2022 | Difficult (Cytb, COI and ND2) |
| Herpestes javanicus (H.j. auropunctatus) | small Asian mongoose | mangouste | Indische mangoest | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Lampropeltis getula | eastern kingsnake, common kingsnake, chain kingsnake | serpent roi | gewone koningsslang | 02/08/2022 | Difficult (Cytb, COI) |
| Lepomis gibbosus | pumpkinseed | perche soleil | zonnebaars | 15/08/2019 | Yes (COI) |
| Limnoperna fortunei | golden mussel | moule dorée | gouden mossel | 02/08/2022 | Yes (COI) |
| Lithobates catesbeianus | American bullfrog | grenouille-taureau | Amerikaanse stierkikker | 03/08/2016 | Yes (12S, 16S) |
| Marisa cornuarietis | Colombian ramshorn apple snail | 17/07/2025 | ||||
| Misgurnus anguillicaudatus | pond loach, dojo loach, oriental weatherloach, oriental weatherfish | loche baromètre | Aziatische modderkruiper | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Misgurnus bipartitus | Northern oriental weatherfish | Noord-Aziatische modderkruiper | 17/07/2025 | |||
| Morone americana | white perch, narrow-mouthed bass, sea perch, silver perch, wreckfish | baret, perche blanche, bar-perche ou petit bar, bar blanc d’Amerique, cernier atlantique, perche blanche | Amerikaanse zeebaars | 02/08/2022 | Yes (COI) |
| Mulinia lateralis | dwarf surf clam, coot clam | Amerikaanse strandschelp | 17/07/2025 | |||
| Muntiacus reevesi | muntjac deer | muntjac | muntjak | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb, ND4) |
| Myocastor coypus | coypu | ragondin | beverrat | 03/08/2016 | Yes (12S, Cytb) |
| Nasua nasua | coati | coati roux | rode neusbeer | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Neogale vison | American mink | vison d’Amérique | Amerikaanse nerts | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Nyctereutes procyonoides | raccoon dog | chien viverrin | wasbeerhond | 02/02/2019 | Yes (Cytb, CR) |
| Obama nungara | obama flatworm | marron plate | grote gevlekte landplatworm | 17/07/2025 | Difficult (COI) |
| Ondatra zibethicus | muskrat | rat musqué | muskusrat | 02/08/2017 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Oxyura jamaicensis | ruddy duck | érismature rousse | rosse stekelstaart | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb, ND2, CR) |
| Pacifastacus leniusculus | signal crayfish | écrevisse de Californie | signaalkreeft | 03/08/2016 | Yes (COI) |
| Perccottus glenii | Amur sleeper | goujon de l’amour | Amurgrondel | 03/08/2016 | Yes (COI, Cytb) |
| Platydemus manokwari | New Guinea flatworm | plathelminthe de Nouvelle-Guinée | Nieuw-Guineese landplatworm | 17/07/2025 | No |
| Plotosus lineatus | striped eel catfish | poisson-chat rayé | gestreepte koraalmeerval | 15/08/2019 | No |
| Procambarus clarkii | red swamp crayfish | écrevisse rouge de marais | rode Amerikaanse rivierkreeft | 03/08/2016 | Yes (COI) |
| Procambarus virginalis (P. fallax f. virginalis) | marbled crayfish | écrevisse marbrée | marmerkreeft | 03/08/2016 | Difficult (16S, COI) |
| Procyon lotor | common raccoon | raton laveur | wasbeer | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Pseudorasbora parva | stone moroko | goujon asiatique | blauwband | 03/08/2016 | Yes (COI, Cytb) |
| Pycnonotus cafer | red-vented bulbul | 02/08/2022 | ||||
| Pycnonotus jocosus | red-whiskered bulbul | bulbul orphée, condé | roodoorbuulbuul | 17/07/2025 | ||
| Sciurus carolinensis | grey squirrel | écureuil gris | grijze eekhoorn | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Sciurus niger | fox squirrel | écureuil fauve | Amerikaanse voseekhoorn | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Solenopsis geminata | tropical fire ant | fourmi de feu tropicale | tropische vuurmier, tabaks-mier | 02/08/2022 | Yes (COI, Gp-9) |
| Solenopsis invicta | red imported fire ant | fourmi de feu | rode vuurmier | 02/08/2022 | Yes (COI) |
| Solenopsis richteri | black imported fire ant | fourmi de feu noir | zwarte vuurmier | 02/08/2022 | Difficult (COI, Gp-9,Odorant) |
| Tamias sibiricus | Siberian chipmunk | tamia de Sibérie | Aziatische (gestreepte) grondeekhoorn | 03/08/2016 | Yes (Cytb) |
| Threskiornis aethiopicus | sacred ibis | ibis sacré | heilige ibis | 03/08/2016 | No |
| Trachemys scripta | red-eared, yellow-bellied and Cumberland sliders | tortue de Floride (T.s. elegans) | roodwang-, geelbuik- en geelwangschildpad | 03/08/2016 | Yes (ND4) |
| Vespa mandarinia | Asian giant hornet, northern giant hornet, Japanese giant hornet | Aziatische reuzenhoornaar, Japanse reuzenhoornaar | 17/07/2025 | |||
| Vespa velutina nigrithorax | Asian hornet | frelon asiatique | (donkere) Aziatische hoornaar | 03/08/2016 | Difficult (COI, Cytb) |
| Wasmannia auropunctata | cocoa tree-ant, electric ant, little introduced fire ant, little red fire ant, small fire ant and West Indian stinging ant | fourmi électrique, fourmi rouge, petit fourmi de feu | dwergvuurmier | 02/08/2022 | Yes (COI) |
| Xenopus laevis | African clawed frog | Afrikaanse klauwkikker | 02/08/2022 |
Factsheets for the animal species included in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. Each factsheet includes a short introduction to the specific IAS (taxonomic classification, native and invasive distribution, etc.) and information on the usefulness of publicly available DNA sequences to identify this IAS using DNA barcoding.