Species of Concern

LISI, along with its partner organisations have compiled a list of species of concern. This list is specific to the London area and aims to provide direction and a means of prioritisation for land managers by grouping species into different management categories.

The experience of relevant professionals, land managers and researchers has been used to inform the species list to ensure that it is accurate. The list is reviewed quarterly and comments on the list are gratefully received. A table of the categories has been included below.

Category Description:

Category 1: Species not currently present in London but present nearby or of concern because of the high risk of negative impacts should they arrive.
Category 2: Species of high impact or concern present at specific sites that require attention (control, management, eradication etc).
Category 3: Species of high impact or concern which are widespread in London and require concerted, coordinated and extensive action to control/eradicate.
Category 4: Species which are widespread for which eradication is not feasible but where avoiding spread to other sites may be required.
Category 5: Species for which insufficient data or evidence was available from those present to be able to priorities
Category 6: Species that were not currently considered to pose a threat or have the potential to cause problems in London.

Download the LISI species of concern here.

Species of Concern List

African clawed toad

Binomial Name: Xenopus laevis

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2009



American bullfrog

Binomial Name: Rana catesbeiana

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2009



Asian hornet

Binomial Name: Vespa velutina

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2010



Asian long-horn beetle

Binomial Name: Anoplophora glabripennis

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2009



Carolina water-shield

Binomial Name: Cabomba carolina

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2009



Caspian mud shrimp

Binomial Name: Chelicorophium curvispinum

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2014



Killer shrimp

Binomial Name: Dikerogammarus villosus

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2010



Marbled Crayfish

Binomial Name: Procambus spp

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2010



Noble crayfish

Binomial Name: Astacus astacus

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2014



Non-native shrimp

Binomial Name: Dikerogammarus bispinosus

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2012



Non-native shrimp

Binomial Name: Limnomysis benedeni

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2012



Tubenose goby

Binomial Name: Proterorhinus marmoratus

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2010



White river crayfish

Binomial Name: Procambarus acutus

INNS Category: 1

Date Added: 2014



Alpine newt

Binomial Name: Ichthyosaura alpestris

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



American mink

Binomial Name: Mustela vison

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



American skunk-cabbage

Binomial Name: Lysichiton americanus

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Bloody-red mysid

Binomial Name: Hemimysis anomala

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Cotoneaster*

Binomial Name: Cotoneaster*

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Duck-potato

Binomial Name: Sagittaria latifolia

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Few-flowered leek

Binomial Name: Allium paradoxum

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Goldfish

Binomial Name: Carassius auratus

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Italian crested newt

Binomial Name: Triturus carnifex

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Kent’s Hampshire Purslane

Binomial Name: Ludwigia x kentiana

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2014



Johnson grass

Binomial Name: Sorghum halepense

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Monk Parakeet

Binomial Name: Myiopsitta monachus

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Montbretia

Binomial Name: Crocosmia pottsii x aurea or C. x crocosmiiflora

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Oak processionary moth

Binomial Name: Thaumetopea processionea

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2011



Orange balsam

Binomial Name: Impatiens capensis

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2014



Pale balsam

Binomial Name: Impatiens balfourii

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2014



Pale Galingale

Binomial Name: Cyperus eragrostis

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Perfoliate Alexanders

Binomial Name: Smyrnium perfoliatum

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Quagga mussel

Binomial Name: Dreissena rostriformis bugensis

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Red swamp crayfish

Binomial Name: Procambarus clarkii

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2014



Rhododendron

Binomial Name: Rhododendron ponticum

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Small balsam

Binomial Name: Impatiens parviflora

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2014



Snowberry

Binomial Name: Symphoricarpos albus

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Spinycheek crayfish

Binomial Name: Orconectes limosus

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2014



Topmouth gudgeon

Binomial Name: Pseudorasbora parva

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2010



Water Fern

Binomial Name: Azolla filiculoides

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Water primrose

Binomial Name: Ludwigia grandiflora

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2009



Virile crayfish

Binomial Name: Orconectes virilis

INNS Category: 2

Date Added: 2014



Buddleia

Binomial Name: Buddleja davidii

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009



Brazilian waterweed

Binomial Name: Egeria densa

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2014



Cherry Laurel

Binomial Name: Prunus laurocerasus

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009



Curly waterweed

Binomial Name: Lagarosiphon major

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2014



Floating Pennywort

Binomial Name: Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009



Gallant soldier

Binomial Name: Galinsoga parviflora

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2014



Giant Hogweed

Binomial Name: Heracleum mantegazzianum

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009

Go to Species Worksheet



Himalayan Balsam

Binomial Name: Impatiens glandulifera

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009

Go to Species Worksheet



Japanese Knotweed

Binomial Name: Fallopia japonica

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009

Go to Species Worksheet



Australian swamp stonecrop

Binomial Name: Crassula helmsii

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009



Parrot’s-feather

Binomial Name: Myriophyllum aquaticum

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009



Red eared slider terrapin

Binomial Name: Trachemys scripta subsp. elegans

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009



Shaggy soldier

Binomial Name: Galinsoga quadriradiata

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2014



Tree-of-heaven

Binomial Name: Ailanthus altissima

INNS Category: 3

Date Added: 2009



Asian shore crab

Binomial Name: Hemigrapsus sanguineus

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2014



Chinese mitten crab

Binomial Name: Eriocheir sinensis

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Chinese Muntjac

Binomial Name: Muntiacus reevesi

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



False-acacia

Binomial Name: Robinia pseudoacacia

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Goat’s-rue

Binomial Name: Galega officinalis

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Least Duckweed

Binomial Name: Lemna minuta

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



North American signal crayfish

Binomial Name: Pacifastacus leniusculus

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Pondweeds

Binomial Name: Elodea canadensis and Elodea nuttalii

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Ring-necked Parakeet

Binomial Name: Psittacula krameri

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Spanish Bluebell

Binomial Name: Hyacinthoides hispanica and H. x massartiana

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Three-cornered Garlic

Binomial Name: Allium triquetrum

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Turkish crayfish

Binomial Name: Astacus leptodactylus

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2014



Yellow Archangel

Binomial Name: Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp. argentatum

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Zebra mussel

Binomial Name: Dreissena polymorpha

INNS Category: 4

Date Added: 2009



Aesculapian snake

Binomial Name: Zamenis longissimus (previously Elaphe longissim)

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2009



Ambrosia

Binomial Name: Ambrosia artemisiifolia

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2014



Bohemian knotweed

Binomial Name: Fallopia japonica x sachalinensis (F x bohemica)

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2014



European Pond Terrapin

Binomial Name: Emys orbicularis

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2009



Foxglove-tree

Binomial Name: Paulownia tomentosa

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2009



Giant knotweed

Binomial Name: Fallopia sachalinensis

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2014



Highclere holly

Binomial Name: Ilex x altaclerensis

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2009



Himalayan knotweed

Binomial Name: Persicaria wallichii

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2014



Holm oak (or Evergreen oak)

Binomial Name: Quercus ilex

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2009



Pink purslane

Binomial Name: Claytonia sibirica

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2014



Turkey oak

Binomial Name: Quercus cerris

INNS Category: 5

Date Added: 2009



Giant salvinia

Binomial Name: Salvinia molesta

INNS Category: 6

Date Added: 2009



Giant-rhubarb

Binomial Name: Gunnera tinctoria and Gunnera manicata

INNS Category: 6

Date Added: 2009



Green alkanet

Binomial Name: Pentaglottis sempervirens

INNS Category: 6

Date Added: 2009



Passion flower

Binomial Name: Passiflora caerulea

INNS Category: 6

Date Added: 2009



Water-hyacinth

Binomial Name: Eichhornia crassipes

INNS Category: 6

Date Added: 2009



Water-lettuce

Binomial Name: Pistia stratiotes

INNS Category: 6

Date Added: 2009