Blog 9: Invasive Species

Have you ever heard of a Cane Toad?
Maybe yes, maybe no... Either way, I haven't... And you might not even know that it's an invasive species in Australia!

Also known as the Giant Toad or the Marine Toad, the Cane Toad is very tough and adaptable, as well as poisonous throughout its life cycle, and only has a few predators in Australia, making it very invasive to the lands... Especially to the native amphibians of Australia.

The Cane Toad is very large, heavily-built amphibian with very dry, warty skin. They have a bony head, as well as bony ridges that are right above their eyes and meet above their nose. Their hind feet have leathery webbing between the toes, while their front feet aren't webbed at all. They sit upright and move in short, rapid hops. Cane Toads appear in a couple of colors... They're usually gray, yellowish, olive-brown, or even reddish-brown, and their bellies are pale with dark specks, and their average size is about 15 cm...

These interesting amphibians are usually found ranging from the southern part of North America to the tropics of South America. However, in the early 1930s, Cane Toads were introduced to Australia from Hawaii in order to control the pests of sugar canes, including beetles. Ever since then, the Cane Toads have been breeding and spreading drastically all over Australia, totaling in about 200 million, and are now considered a major invasive species to the lands.

Cane Toads excrete poison, that is not only harmful and toxic to humans, but to the native animals as well. Other animal species that have not adapted to the presence of the Cane Toads don't have a chance to fight back when they're being attacked, and the Cane Toads' predators die off. These poisonous frogs are killing off many species on the continent, as soon enough, a numerous amount of species will be gone forever!
Many scientists have been biologically affecting the breeding process of these toads, as well as notifying the public by using quarantine checks and awareness announcements in order to inform people of these dangerous, toxic toads.

Cane Toads are a perfect example of an invasive species in Australia, just like the Citrus Long-horned Beetle is an invasive species here, in the United States...

The Citrus Long-horned Beetle is native to Japan, China, and Korea, where it is considered a pest, among many others. Infestations by the beetle can kill many different types of hardwood trees, as well as citrus trees, pecan, apple, Australian pine, hibiscus, sycamore, willow, pear, mulberry, pigeon pea, Chinaberry, poplar, litchi, kumquat, Japanese red cedar, oak, and ficus.

The Citrus Long-horned Beetle poses a threat to the environment in North America, mostly because it attacks healthy trees and has no natural enemies. Not only are greenbelts, urban landscapes and backyard trees at jeopardy, but also orchards, forests, and endangered salmon, and wildlife habitat. This invasive species was first spotted on bonsai trees that were imported from China in 1999 in Georgia. There were three female beetles spotted and captured that were ready to lay eggs, but after a while of research, eight larvae tunnels were found in the bonsai tree that were built as exit tunnels... That meant that five Citrus Long-Horned Beetles escaped into the surrounding community, leading to thousands more of beetles. This species has become a threat to the United States, but many scientists and people have been keeping them compact in one place.

As you can see, not only are there invasive species here in the United Stated, but also in Australia, which can all lead to major types of harm in many different ways! We need to watch out for invasive species, because we never know where they're from or what they do to harm the community...
In other words, invasive species are bad to the country!