All non-native species records are useful, helping to identify trends and track the distribution of over 1800 non-native plants and animals. In Britain we are lucky to have a wealth of information about our plants and animals that has been collected by enthusiastic recorders for over 200 years.
With the development of online recording sites and smartphone apps it is now easier than ever for anyone to provide useful biological records of non-native species.
Where to send your records
You can record any non-native species online through iRecord (external link) Please include a photograph of your sighting if you have one, to help with identification. There are also recording schemes to encourage reporting of certain species, see the list of smartphone apps and websites below.
Species to record
By far the most important data you can provide are ‘early warning’ records of new non-native species and those that are only just starting to establish. By recording these ‘alert’ species as quickly as possible you could be helping to prevent the establishment of a new invasive non-native species.
The following are current alert species:
Vertebrates
- American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
- Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)
- Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
- Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)
- Ruddy duck (Nyctereutes procyonoides)
- Sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
- Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus)
- Topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva)
- Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas)
Plants
- Water primrose (Ludwigia grandiflora)
- Carolina fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)
- Chilean needle-grass (Nassella neesiana)
- Purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea)
- Sea myrtle (Baccharis halimifolia)
- Various-leaved watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum)
Invertebrates
- American lobster (Homarus americanus)
- Japanese sting winkle (Ocinebrellus inornatus)
- Marbled crayfish (Procambarus fallax f. virginalis)
- Asian hornet (Vespa velutina)
Identification materials
- View free ID sheets for over 60 non-native species.
Smartphone apps
- Asian Hornet Watch (external link) - record sightings of the alert species, Asian hornet. The app also contains useful guidance on identifying Asian hornet, and common confusion species.
- INNS Mapper (external link) - record sightings and surveys of 62 non-native species, and plot management work.
- Conker tree science leaf watch (external link)
Other non-native species recording schemes
Plants
- Plant Alert (external link) - report problem garden plants which could become invasive in future.
- Wakame Watch (external link) - for sightings of the non-native seaweed wakame.
- Tree Alert (external link) - report sightings of tree pests and diseases.
Vertebrates
- Turtle Tally (external link) - record turtle and terrapin sightings.
- Alien Encounters (external link) - record non-native amphibian and reptile sightings.
Invertebrates
- American lobster - links to record American lobster sightings.
- Crab Watch (external link) - record native and non-native crab sightings.
- Flatworm Survey (external link) - record non-native flatworms.
- Lily Beetle Survey (external link)
- Rosemary beetle (external link)
- Citrus longhorn beetle (external link) - report a sighting through Tree A!ert.
- Oak processionary moth (external link) - report a sighting through Tree A!ert.
- National Moth Recording Scheme (external link) - record native and non-native moth sightings.
- Termite monitoring (external link) - report termite sightings.
- Marmorated stink bug (external link) - report sightings of marmorated stink bug.
- Mosquitos (external link) - report mosquito sightings.
General
- Invasive Species Ireland (external link)
- National Biodiversity Network (external link)
- INNS Mapper (external link)
I can't submit my alert species records online or through an app
If you are unable to upload your alert species records online, you can send a non-native species record by email or post to:
The Biological Records Centre
CEH Wallingford
Maclean Building
Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 8BB
Looking to get more involved in identifying and recording wildlife?
If you get involved in the recording schemes above and enjoy looking for non-native species, you may become interested in recording other wildlife. If so, take a look at iSpot (external link), a website aimed at helping anyone identify anything in nature.
Once registered, you can add an observation to the website, suggest an identification yourself, or see if anyone else can identify it for you. Take a look and get more involved in recording wildlife today!