What is a non-indigenous organism?
An organism that occurs in an area outside its native range. It may have been moved to the new area intentionally, accidentally or on its own. The words exotic and alien are often used interchangeably with non-indigenous. Many non-indigenous organisms are highly beneficial in the area of introduction. For example, some of our most important crops are non-indigenous (e.g. citrus, sugarcane, corn, cotton), as well as several beneficial insects (honey bees, many introduced biological control agents). However, a few exotic organisms become agricultural pests or invade and cause damage to natural ecosystems.
