It appears that introducing any new species into a habitat always backfires.
Cane Toads into Australia (with over 1.35 billion of the critters in the country), is the current standout example of such disastrous imports. It has also been found in Caribbean, the Philippines, Fiji, New Guinea and the USA - it appears to be an unstoppable amphibian.
But there are less well known examples such as:
The Kudzu Vine – also known as the ‘mile-a-minute’ plant which grows up to 30cm a day, and mature vines can reach 30m long. Its native to Japan and south-east China, it was imported to the USA, but has turned up in Australis, Canada and northern Italy, as well as Fiji. Its now declared as a Bio hazard in New Zealand and many other countries and eradication measures are expensive and largely ineffective.
The Harlequin Ladybird which introduced in Europe and North America to control aphids but now outcompetes with and also eats native ladybirds.
Japanese Knotweed - Suffice to say that this is similar to the Kuzdu Vine and that in the UK it is an offence under section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to "plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild" any Japanese Knotweed. With an on-the-spot fine or be prosecuted. It is also classed as "controlled waste" and requires disposal at licensed landfill sites. It was decided in 2014 to release a Japanese psyllid insect, Aphalara itadori to try and control the Knotweed.
Signal Crayfish - In the 1970's, the British government introduced the Signal crayfish from North America to UK waters for export as a crayfish plague had ravaged native white-clawed crayfish populations in Europe. Unfortunately it is a carrier of crayfish plague and is thought to be responsible for passing the deadly disease to the native white-clawed crayfish.
The latest such example of these pests are the Coypu in Italy. Introduced to be farmed it soon spread and is now a major invasive pest in Northern Italy, especially the Po Valley. The solution according to Michele Marchi, a local Mayor is for the locals to hunt and eat them in restaurants. He claims to have tried it and found them to be almost better tasting than local rabbits.
Given the local propensity for hunting in Italy, where the winter months resonate with the sound of gunfire, I wouldn't give muchfur for the Coypus chances.
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| Cane Toad Selfie Of Self Congratulation |
Cane Toads into Australia (with over 1.35 billion of the critters in the country), is the current standout example of such disastrous imports. It has also been found in Caribbean, the Philippines, Fiji, New Guinea and the USA - it appears to be an unstoppable amphibian.
But there are less well known examples such as:
The Kudzu Vine – also known as the ‘mile-a-minute’ plant which grows up to 30cm a day, and mature vines can reach 30m long. Its native to Japan and south-east China, it was imported to the USA, but has turned up in Australis, Canada and northern Italy, as well as Fiji. Its now declared as a Bio hazard in New Zealand and many other countries and eradication measures are expensive and largely ineffective.
The Harlequin Ladybird which introduced in Europe and North America to control aphids but now outcompetes with and also eats native ladybirds.
Japanese Knotweed - Suffice to say that this is similar to the Kuzdu Vine and that in the UK it is an offence under section 14(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to "plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild" any Japanese Knotweed. With an on-the-spot fine or be prosecuted. It is also classed as "controlled waste" and requires disposal at licensed landfill sites. It was decided in 2014 to release a Japanese psyllid insect, Aphalara itadori to try and control the Knotweed.
Signal Crayfish - In the 1970's, the British government introduced the Signal crayfish from North America to UK waters for export as a crayfish plague had ravaged native white-clawed crayfish populations in Europe. Unfortunately it is a carrier of crayfish plague and is thought to be responsible for passing the deadly disease to the native white-clawed crayfish.
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| Coypu Plague In Italy ... But Perhaps Not For Long? |
The latest such example of these pests are the Coypu in Italy. Introduced to be farmed it soon spread and is now a major invasive pest in Northern Italy, especially the Po Valley. The solution according to Michele Marchi, a local Mayor is for the locals to hunt and eat them in restaurants. He claims to have tried it and found them to be almost better tasting than local rabbits.
Given the local propensity for hunting in Italy, where the winter months resonate with the sound of gunfire, I wouldn't give much
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