I nvasive species are one of the most insidious and costly threats to global biodiversity, food security, and ecosystem stability. From crop-eating insects and aquatic invaders to non-native plants that choke out native flora, these biological infiltrators cost the world economy billions each year—and their spread is accelerating with global trade and climate change. In the past, detection and containment relied heavily on manual surveys, traps, and ground patrols. But the em