1. Biological Pests

2. What is a biological pest?
A plant or animal that is NOT native to an area and becomes a pest as it takes over due to a lack of natural enemies that would maintain them.

3. Types of Biological Pests
Tamarisks
Amur Honeysuckle
Purple Loosestrife
Ticks
Starlings
Mice

4. Tamarisks

5. Tamarisks
These are dangerous because they displace the native stream side vegetation and the habitat prone to wildfires.
They continue to be a problem because they consume so much water used by wildlife.

6. Amur Honeysuckle

7. Amur Honeysuckle
This is dangerous because it colonizes in many habitats - fields, marshes, roadsides, and forests.
It is a problem in forests because it may affect long-term tree populations.

8. Purple Loosestrife

9. Purple Loosestrife
This plant is a problem because it can disrupt the water flow of rivers.
It spreads very quickly because it produces 3 million seeds per year! It is carried by wind and water.

10. Ticks

11. Ticks These pests compete for blood of their host animal.
They are dangerous because they carry diseases - lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Typhus

12. Starlings

13. Starlings
These are pests because they are noisy, transfer diseases between livestock, eat cultivated fruits and seeds.
They can affect an environment by competing with native birds causing a decline in populations.

14. Mice

15. Mice
These are pests that compete for food meant for humans, pets, or farm animals.
They can cause problems by contamination, damage to structures, furniture, fabric, and property.