Officials have confirmed that the starry stonewort, a type of invasive algae, has invaded Lake Koronis and Mud Lake in Minnesota. These non-native macro algae are producing 'dense mats' in the water that choke other flora in the marine ecosystem, reported Perfect Science.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the algae species is also in the list of invasive pests that as per conservationists is a serious risk to the nation's water bodies and its ecosystems.

According to the Virginia-based National Wildlife Federation, the invasive species are a major threat to US biodiversity. "Non-native plants and animals ... threaten native wildlife and ecosystems and are causing ecological havoc in many of our most sensitive habitats, pushing many of our native plants and animals to the brink of extinction", it said.

Invasive species also cost taxpayers in terms of damages to the environment, agriculture, and native species. As per government estimates, their impact ranges from $74 billion to $120 billion annually, due to which the species are a great concern across the United States.

Starting from the Northeast to the Southwest, these non-native aquatic species disrupt local plant and animal communities, spurring local groups to act.

In order to encourage the locals to report about the appearance of the invasive species, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has provided a list of plants including Brazilian elodea to European frog-bit that infest water bodies in the state.

Native to Europe and western Asia, the starry stonewort first appeared in Michigan and northern Indiana. Authorities have recently confirmed the presence of starry stonewort in six lakes in southeast Wisconsin.