Species Accounts – Invasive Species Northern Ireland

Quagga mussel

Dreissena rostriformis bugensis

Status:

Established

Habitat:

Freshwater

Threats:

Fouling, negative impacts on native species and local extinction of unionids.

Find out more ›

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Status:

Potential

Habitat:

Terrestrial

Threats:

Voracious predator and can cause decline of waterfowl. disease vector.

Find out more ›

Raccoon Dog

Nyctereutes procyonoides

Status:

Potential

Habitat:

Terrestrial

Threats:

Highly adaptable to new habitats. Voracious predator. Disease and parasite vector

Find out more ›

Red Imported Fire Ant

Solenopsis invicta

Status:

Potential

Habitat:

Terrestrial

Threats:

Damage electrical equipment, feed on commercially important crops; competition with, predation and stinging of other animals

Find out more ›

Red king crab

Paralithodes camtschaticus

Status:

Potential

Habitat:

Marine

Threats:

Competition with native species.

Find out more ›

Red swamp crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

Status:

Potential

Habitat:

Freshwater

Threats:

Outcompetes the native European crayfish. Degrades riverbanks through burrowing

Find out more ›

Red-eared, yellow-bellied and Cumberland sliders

Trachemys scripta spp.

Status:

Established

Habitat:

Freshwater

Threats:

It disturbs aquatic habitats and poses a human health risk, being a possible reservoir for salmonella

Find out more ›

Red-vented bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

Status:

Potential

Habitat:

Terrestrial

Threats:

Destroys commercially important crops. May spread invasive plant seeds. Competes with native birds for food and space

Find out more ›

Rhododendron

Rhododendron ponticum

Status:

Established

Habitat:

Terrestrial

Threats:

Competition with native plants.

Find out more ›