Ryan Sabalow

ryan.sabalow@indystar.com

There's no two ways about it. Invasive species suck.

Because they're non-native, they have few natural predators and can decimate ecosystems when they become established. And one particularly nasty species is practically knocking on Indiana's door.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence declared next week Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Week.

These beetles kills trees by burrowing into them. They especially love maple trees, and that means bad news for Indiana's forests. Maple species make up a third or more of the trees in many Hoosier woods.

While the beetles haven't yet been found in Indiana, an infestation was discovered in Bethel, Ohio, just east of Cincinnati.

Pence and the Department of Natural Resources are urging Hoosiers to report longhorned beetle infestations by calling 1-866-NO EXOTIC. You can also download an app at EDDmaps.org/Indiana to submit bug reports on your phone.

Here are some of the other invasive species giving Indiana wildlife biologists heartburn.

Sea Lampreys:

Talk about nasty. These parasitic, blood-sucking fish feed by latching their nasty toothy suckery mouths onto other fish. While there's some debate about whether the fish were originally native to Lake Ontario, in the past 100 years, they've swarmed the Great Lakes, including Indiana's portion of Lake Michigan and the tributaries that feed the lake. That's bad for the fish and commercial anglers. Lampreys are blamed for the decline of several native species.

Asian carp:

There are two species of Asian carp, bigheads and silvers, that have invaded Indiana's rivers. Fisheries biologists hate these things because they threaten aquatic ecosystems, commercial fishing and, yes, people. Silver carp not only gobble up organisms vital to a waterway's food chain, but when they're disturbed by a boat, they're prone to leaping from the water, sometimes by the dozen, and often directly into the boat's path. A 40 pounder could bounce off your noggin on your next boat ride. Not good.

Wild hogs:

Yep, these reality TV stars live in isolated pockets in Southern Indiana. While not in the state in overwhelming numbers, wildlife biologists say they're worried that these prolific breeders may spread like they have in many other states. That's a particular concern for landowners, livestock operators and wildlife biologists, who say these terribly destructive animals wreak havoc on crops, landscaping and wild habitats. They also carry disease.

Invasive mussels:

Zebra and quagga mussels were likely introduced into the U.S. from Asia via the global shipping trade. These mussels can blanket lake and river bottoms and clog intake pipes for drinking water. Zebra mussels stick to any hard surface, including turtle shells and the bodies of crayfish. They also suck to step on barefoot. These mussels harm ecosystems by sucking up microscopic organisms at the bottom of the food chain and outcompeting native species. Zebra mussels have been found in waterways all over Indiana, and quagga mussels have invaded Lake Michigan.

Emerald ash borer:

The penny-sized green beetle is native to Asia. It was first discovered in the U.S. near Detroit about 10 years ago. It since has rapidly chewed its way through millions of native ash trees in much of the eastern half of the country, including in Indiana.

Mute swans:

Everybody loves swans, right? Nope. State waterfowl biologists wish these ugly ducklings would have never been hatched in Indiana. Native to Europe and Asia, these birds are bad news for native habitats. Each day they eat up to eight pounds of aquatic plants vital to the health of aquatic ecosystems. They're also extremely aggressive during the breeding season and readily attack ducks, geese, pets and even children.

Gypsy moths:

These are one of North America's most devastating invasive forest pests. Another European and Asian invader, they were introduced near Boston in the 1860s by an amateur entomologist, according to the DNR. Since then, gypsy moths, which chow down on oak trees, have spread into the Midwest, including in Indiana.

Call Star reporter Ryan Sabalow at (317) 444-6179. Follow him on Twitter: @ryansabalow.