9 of the Worst Invasive Bug Species in the United States

Insects are cool (if you look past all the legs). She tear down dead things by eating them and pollinating plants so we can grow enough plants to feed the world. Conservation encourages us to protect wildlife, especially bugs, which are now peering down an animal’s run Insect Apocalypse.

But…sometimes you have to kill a few bugs to protect entire ecosystems. Specifically, invasive insects that have transported humans around the world. In some cases, they have crowded out native insects and destroyed native plants that don’t have the defenses to deal with invasive insect species that shouldn’t be there at all. In some cases, invasive species could rapidly increase their populations when there were no natural predators to keep them in check.

Experts have urged the public to do so show no mercy and only destroy species identified as invasive and destructive. With that in mind, we invite you to take a close look at these suspect species and do what biologists feel is your duty to eradicate them. Literally.

A version of this story was originally published on January 31, 2022.