USDA: Bean plastapid nymphs on kudzu leaf. Photo by Yanzhuo Zhang.

Kudzu, once hailed as a “miracle vine,” is now a thorn in the side of folks throughout the Southeast. Once used by American farmers as a means to stop soil erosion, this pesky invasive species spread far beyond its intended boundaries. The foreign plant made itself at home in the U.S., wrapping around anything that stays still and smothering fields, old buildings and native plants in its leafy green clutches. Instead of a miracle vine, some folks now call Kudzu the “vine that ate the South.” And it’s far from finished.

The Asian plant is just one obnoxious and notorious character that highlights the trouble with invasive species. The large amount of kudzu in the Southeast is also attracting lots of annoying kudzu stink bugs with zero respect for national boundaries or personal space. Like brown marmorated stink bugs, the kudzu-loving pests are fond of invading homes, nibbling their way through crop fields and gardens and spreading general creepiness in their wake. As the saying goes, game recognizes game, and one invasive species can certainly play off of another.

USDA: Adult Kudzu Stink Bug. Photo by Joe Eger.

A new National Wildlife Federation report, Growing Risk: Addressing the Invasive Potential of Bioenergy Feedstocks, warns of the dangers of introducing non-native and genetically modified species into local ecosystems. Researchers recommend precaution and commonsense policy solutions so that good intentions don’t grow bad and out of control like kudzu. The qualities that make some foreign plants so attractive for agriculture and bioenergy production are the very characteristics that make them challenging to control once they escape and take root in our gardens, fields and backyards. Furthermore, mitigating and eliminating the impact of these invasive species can take a toll on native wildlife and taxpayers’ wallets.

Click here to find out more about the work the National Wildlife Federation is doing to stop the spread of invasive species and protect native wildlife. You can also read more about one man’s battle with stink bugs and their massive six-legged east coast invasion.

Recently, tribal leaders, landowners, hunters, anglers, conservationists, business owners and government leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. for the White House Conservation Conference. Tourism and outdoor recreation, coastal conservation, river restoration and hunting and fishing were important topics of discussion, as well as other key conservation issues. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar also attended the event.

President Barack Obama addressed the crowd, stating that, “effective conservation is about more than protecting the environment, it’s about strengthening the economy.” The President also highlighted the historic significance of conservation within the United States. He spoke about the value of  protecting “the incredible bounty we’ve been blessed with” for current and future generations of Americans by placing conservation at the forefront of the national agenda. You can hear more of President Obama’s thoughts on conservation by watching the conference video above.

Miami Blue Butterfly, Photo credit: Jeffrey Glassberg, Ph.D

Find out how real solutions using good science can be used to stop to invasive species that are killing native wildlife, especially endangered species. In time, beauty fades, but the Miami blue butterfly doesn’t have to.

When male manakins want to impress a mate they might pull a Michael Jackson. These small and often brightly colored tropical birds moonwalk on branches as part of their elaborate courtship rituals. While these winged dancers usually make their own music, this video has the King of Pop spicing up the soundtrack. Adding a little M.J. definitely makes the manakin the baddest bird on the branch.

Visit the National Wildlife Federation’s birds and birding section to learn more about the habits and qualities that make our feathered friends so fascinating and unique.

Black Widow Spider, Photo Credit: NIH.gov

You Look Good Enough to Eat

For males, the red hour glass marking on black widow spiders should be an indicator that their time is up. Ordinary gifts won’t do for the females of this species; these venomous femme fatales require the ultimate sacrifice. Black widows are notorious mate eaters, and they’re hardly alone. Female praying mantises, scorpions, midges and other spiders are also known to decapitate and gobble up their significant others.

Love Hurts

Scientists have several theories about the motivation of mate eaters and their victims. Experts speculate that self-sacrifice may increase reproductive success for males by providing extra nutrition to the mother of their offspring. Other researchers suggest mate munching is just a case of mistaken identity. Also, killing members of the opposite sex may be a way of eliminating competition for food.

Chinese Praying Mantis on the sidewalk at NWF headquarters, Photo Credit: MABlevins

Some males in the mate-eating world, however, are quick enough and lucky enough to escape. However, ladies in the animal kingdom aren’t the only ones who take love bites too far. Male paddle crabs can flip the script and devour their mates, too.

A dozen roses doesn’t seem like too much to ask, especially in comparison to what some six and eight-legged females require. Sacrificing a little time this Valentine’s Day is much better than sacrificing your life.

More for Valentine’s Day

• Valentine’s Day: A Holiday for Real Animals
• Best Photos and Videos of Wildlife L’Amour
• 10 Animal Heart Facts for Valentine’s Day
• Read how seabirds send “love letters” to their potential mates

If cats have nine lives, an endangered cougar subspecies may be down to its last one. The Florida panther has been a whisker away from extinction for decades, struggling to survive amidst habitat loss, pollution, disease and uncontrolled hunting.  Unfortunately, massive, hungry snakes from overseas are bringing more darkness to the future of this Sunshine State mascot.

Giant Burmese pythons are gorging, hissing and crushing their way through the Florida Everglades. These invasive snakes are gobbling up mammals left and right that serve as the food for panthers.  A new study blames a more than 90 percent drop in wildlife sightings of raccoons, white-tailed deer and bobcats in the Everglades on Burmese pythons. These lethal reptiles have no natural predators in the region, like living in wetlands and can live a year without food. They can also live for up to 25 years, grow over 20 feet long and weight up to 200 pounds.

Irresponsible owners who can’t handle giant predatory pets like Burmese pythons dump them in the wild where the snakes terrorize native wildlife and people. Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prohibited the importation and interstate transportation and sale of the Burmese python and three other non-native constrictor snakes. However, the agency dropped five other dangerous constrictors from this list. A full restriction of invasive constrictor snakes would save taxpayers money and help endangered species in the Everglades.

There are fewer than 200 Florida panthers left in the wild, and invasive species like the Burmese python are only making the problem worse. Take a moment to take action and keep this American icon from disappearing forever. Click here to see the work the National Wildlife Federation and the Florida Wildlife Federation  are doing to save the Florida panther.

Photo: Dominic Rivard

Ice wine is crafted from frozen grapes to produce a thick and sweet concoction usually served with dessert. The concentrated, syrupy and sugary libation doesn’t come cheap, and a mild winter is costing wineries in the Northeast and Upper Midwest in the United States. Higher winter temperatures forced growers to wait much later to harvest frozen grapes. Because of the delay, some of the fruit withered on the vine, and some winemakers decided it was just too late to pick them.

A smaller and later harvest could translate into higher prices for a vintage that can cost upwards of $50. Climate change is putting the squeeze on grapes around the world, as well as winemakers and wine drinkers. Ice wine may be sweet, but a warming world could make for more bitter harvests.

Out-compete native fish and attack boaters as an Asian carp in Invasion!! (Screen capture)

Invasion!! , a video game by the MacArthur Foundation, lets gamers play as a villainous Asian carp infesting the Great Lakes. As a member of this invasive species, players steal food from native fish like perch, jump in the air and knock screaming boaters and birds into the water.

Work as the Carp Czar to stop Asian carp in Invasion!! (Screen capture)

You can help fight these destructive flying fish on screen and off. Click here to protect the Great Lakes from the real Asian carp invasion.

Diamond Weevil, Photo: Flickr/Ian Sutton

The black and metallic bluish-green bug lives in Australia and can be found in woodlands, forests and urban areas. It grows bout an inch long and eats acacia plants.

The diamond weevil may not spark a new jewelry craze, but they are sparking the imagination of scientists. Researchers believe the scales of this insect could inspire the creation of new materials.

It looks like diamonds are a bug’s best friend.

Santa Claws is not happy with anti-environmental riders. Photo: Flickr/Brenbot

Dirty Water Rider
This proposed rider would cripple the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with guidance to clarify and restore the Clean Water Act. This nearly 40-year-old law protects the rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands that provide drinking water and wildlife habitat. Passing the Dirty Water Rider would threaten public health, fish and wildlife and force taxpayers to pay more to cleanup flood damage in communities.

Toxic Air Rider
Mercury is a toxic chemical that can damage the brain of children and unborn babies, and power plants are the largest industrial producer of this brain poison. The Toxic Air Rider would undermine the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the Clean Air Act’s upcoming Mercury and Air Toxics standards for power plants. In addition to harming kids, dangerous air pollution also aggravates asthma and increases heart attacks. High levels of mercury can also harm wildlife, making it harder for animals to reproduce, avoid predators and hunt.

Bad Bighorn Sheep Rider
Bighorn sheep are an iconic wild western species, and a congressional rider could prevent federal agencies from protecting them. The Bad Bighorn Sheep Rider stops federal land managers from separating domestic sheep from bighorn sheep on grazing lands. Domestic sheep can spread diseases to bighorn populations. If this bad wildlife rider passes, it could jeopardize hunting and recreation dollars bighorn sheep generate for western communities.

Clean air, clean water and healthy wildlife are wonderful natural gifts. Choose your cause and take action to keep these valuable resources safe this holiday season and every season.  Santa Claws is watching.