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The nine-banded armadillo is native to Central and South America. The creatures moved to the Southern United States in the mid-1800s and as warm weather spreads across the U.S, armadillos have steadily moved north for over 100 years.

Recently, an invasive species called hammerhead worms have been found in Ohio. Soil circulation has caused hammerhead worms to spread across the country, particularly in greenhouse production, and they have recently been found in several Ohio counties.

Hammerhead worms, which are native to Japan and Korea, made their way to the United States on the soil of ornamental plants in the 1900s. Hammerhead worms have moved throughout the country through the movement of soils, especially in greenhouse production, and have been spotted in several Ohio counties recently.

...and That Just May Be a Very Good Thing. Christina Butler from Georgia, United States Creative Commons Attribution 2.0. Species can move around, particularly when there are dynamic changes taking place in the environment. Organisms exploit opportunities or flee disruptions and have done so since the beginning. These shifts in a species' distribution in response to environmental change are normal and so fine and dandy. Under certain circumstances, these species can cause ecological harm. When human activity is involved with these migrations, triggering or facilitating geographic shifts, we label them with the judgmental handle, Invasive species.

The Bradford pear tree was introduced to North America in the 1960s from China and Taiwan, brought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soon the medium-sized landscaping tree became the most popular ornamental tree, prized for its glorious blooms in spring and long-lasting colors in autumn.

The Bradford pear tree was introduced to North America in the 1960s from China and Taiwan, brought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soon the medium-sized landscaping tree became the most popular ornamental tree, prized for its glorious blooms in spring and long-lasting colors in autumn.

The Bradford pear tree was introduced to North America in the 1960s from China and Taiwan, brought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soon the medium-sized landscaping tree became the most popular ornamental tree, prized for its glorious blooms in spring and long-lasting colors in autumn.

Hammerhead worms, which are native to Japan and Korea, made their way to the United States on the soil of ornamental plants in the 1900s. Hammerhead worms first appeared around the Beaumont area in the 1980s and have invaded North Texas upending local gardens and lawns attacking turf and a variety of common grasses.

The Bradford pear tree was introduced to North America in the 1960s from China and Taiwan, brought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soon the medium-sized landscaping tree became the most popular ornamental tree, prized for its glorious blooms in spring and long-lasting colors in autumn.

Black and white tegus are invasive reptile species native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. The species was introduced to Florida through the pet trade and then likely released from captivity into the environment. The lizards have been steadily moving to Northern Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama over the past few years.

Jumping worms, which are native to Japan and Korea, arrived in the United States in the 1920s as fishing bait and as hitchhikers on imported plants and soils. Jumping worms first appeared in the Midwest in 2013 and have upended local gardens and lawns for several years turning rich soil into small crumbles ultimately depleting nutrients.

The Bradford pear tree was introduced to North America in the 1960s from China and Taiwan, brought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soon the medium-sized landscaping tree became the most popular ornamental tree, prized for its glorious blooms in spring and long-lasting colors in autumn.

Milwaukee County wants to hire goats to maintain the parks and help eliminate invasive plant species around the county. County Supervisor Jason Haas has successfully appropriated funds for the project after a resolution to use the county’s rainy-day account to pay for goats' maintenance was passed.

The tawny crazy ant, also known as the raspberry crazy ant, is an invasive species that was brought to the U.S. from Argentina and Brazil via ships. It was first found in Houston in 2002 and since spread across Texas, driving out native insects and small animals and causing major headaches for homeowners.

The City of Fayetteville’s invasive plant Bounty Program garnered national attention in the past three years, with many people wishing their own communities would offer such a program.

The Bradford pear tree was introduced to North America in the 1960s from China, brought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soon it became the most popular ornamental tree, prized for its glorious blooms in spring and long-lasting colors in the autumn.

Asian needle ants are native to East Asia, specifically Japan, China, and Korea. The species was accidentally introduced to the United States in the 1920s or 1930s by human travel and commerce activities. Unlike many other invasive species, Asian needle ants can infest homes and as well as outdoor areas.

While you are reading this, the Jorō spider is steadily spinning its way from Georgia to the East Coast. These large, colorful spiders from Japan made their debut on American soil in 2013. About 3 inches in length, these spiders stand out because of their unique yellow, blue-black, and red colors which led ecologist Benjamin Frick to refer to it as "a Nerf football-looking spider."

The Joro spider originated in Japan, but is now spreading in the United States, where it is considered an invasive species. It's been seen in the Carolinas and Georgia, but is likely to spread across the East Coast and possibly the West Coast. The Joro weaves a web that is up to 9 feet deep. Photo credit Twistingpoetry/public domain.

Native to China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, Joro spiders are part of a group of spiders known as "orb weavers" because of their circular webs. These spiders span nearly three inches long when their legs are fully extended. The Joro spider first arrived stateside around 2013 and has since spread across the state, particularly in Northern Georgia.