Aldrovanda: Introduced to the United States!

Aldrovanda vesiculosa in Saccasunna, New Jersey in 

I recently ran across an article from 2013 covering the naturalization of Aldrovanda vesiculosa on the Eastern Seaboard - specifically in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. I was not aware that Aldrovanda had been introduced - and naturalized - anywhere in the United States until I saw this article. Apparently, it has not only been introduced, but, unlike in its native range, it is thriving.

Adam Cross, best known for his book, Aldrovanda: The Waterwheel Plant, reports that Aldrovanda has been classified as 'low risk' for becoming an invasive weed in the United States (unlike Utricularia inflata in Washington (state)).

To briefly summarize:

• Two known populations exists in New Jersey. The first came into being because a planned introduction of the species to several New Jersey sites in order to preserve the plant if all known Old World sites disappeared was successful. The second came into being more recently, due to unknown causes. It is possibly the result of bird migration from New York or the other New Jersey site.
• One known population exists in New York. It consists of some 25 to 30 million individuals.
• Seven known populations exist in Virginia. These came into being because several Virginia carnivorous plant growers introduced the species to their backyard ponds, where they grew aquatic Utricularia. These introductions appears unsuccessful, at first, but, later, Aldrovanda was found in several ponds. 
• Most populations in Virginia occur in "slow flowing beaver impounded creeks with high emergent vegetation cover of floating aquatics and graminoids, but some occur in small catchment basins. The largest population comprises several million individuals."
• Virginia Counties with sites include: Caroline, Hanover, Louisa, Orange, and Spotsylvania

Now that I know about these populations, it's definitely time to plan a field trip! I'll be sure to let you all know when that happens (and bring back a bunch of photos).

As a side note, Adam Cross now has an Aldrovanda website, which is quite useful.