United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Plant Protection and Quarantine-Center for Plant Health Science and Technology





The North American Non-Indigenous Arthropod Database was developed by K. C. Kim
Frost Entomological Museum, the Pennsylvania State University.

In 1991 a project on non-indigenous insects and arachnids in the United States was conducted and the final report submitted to the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment (Kim, K.C. and A.G. Wheeler, Jr. 1991. Pathways and Consequences of the Introduction of Non-indigenous Insects and Arachnids in the United States - Report to the U.S. congress Office of Technology Assessment [Contract #H3-6115.0]). This report included approximately 2,000 non-indigenous species of insects and arachnids and covered topics such as those listed below. Brief excerpts from some of these sections may be accessed through the buttons on the left.

  • North American Fauna of Insects and Arachnids
  • The Current Status of Non-Indigenous Species
  • Major Pathways of Species Introductions
  • Major Factors Contributing to Introductions
  • The Consequences of Introductions
  • Case Studies

  • Gaps Analysis


North American Non-Indigenous Arthropod Database

The data collected for the above project was the basis for development of the North American Non-indigenous Arthropods Database (NANIAD). The development of NANIAD has proceeded since 1993, as the National Biological Control Institute, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service agreed to fund the NANIAD project.

In 1994, questionnaire was sent to 278 entomologists and arthropod systematists whose taxonomic expertise covers the North American fauna [Source: Arnett, Ross H. and Mary E. Arnett. 1993. The Naturalists' Directory and Almanac (International), 116th Year, 1993. 46th Edition. Gainesville, FL: The Sandhill Crane Press].

Literature search on non-indigenous arthropods (NIA) for the last 20 years was completed (Sources: AGRICOLA and BIOSIS).

The NANIAD presently contains the data so far captured from diverse resources for 2,273 species of non-indigenous insects and arachnids on:

  • species name and classification
  • natural distribution
  • immigrant distribution
  • economic and/or environmental impacts
  • disease vectors
  • establishment status
  • years of eradication
  • location and date of first entry
  • location and date of re-entries
  • type and pathway of entry
  • habitat
  • host
  • life history and ecology
  • literature citations.