An individual of the Vespa velutina species, also known as the yellow-legged hornet, has been found live in the U.S. for the first time. The hornet was found near Savannah, Georgia and is a predator of honey bees and other native pollinators. The yellow-legged hornet is native to Southeast Asia and is related to invasive […]
TikTok has introduced many interesting trends, from cleaning hacks to fashion styles. But a recent stunt to relocate animals, like frogs and ladybugs, and release millions of these creatures into non-native habitats is putting ecosystems at risk. In early 2022, TikTok user thinfrog began posting videos of frogs in a paddling pool near his home. […]
Invasive species threaten native species by crowding them out or taking over much of the available resources the native species need to survive. While experts have taken many approaches to confront invasive species, a distillery in New Hampshire is taking an innovative route: by turning the invasive European green crab into an ingredient for a […]
Despite their name, invasive species can be deceptively cute, stunning, or fragrant, inspiring people to introduce them to non-native habitats. But the issue is that some species are moved to a new area, either on purpose or by mistake, and are met with a lack of natural predators, allowing them to crowd out native species.
What grows up to eight inches long, is dark with a white band, can leap a foot in the air and is the latest threat to California’s forest ecosystems? The answer is the Asian jumping worm (Amynthas agrestis), a uniquely mobile species of earthworm with an impressive appetite that was sighted in the state for […]
In Gran Canaria, part of the Canary Islands, police have recovered 139 animals, most of which were invasive species and several of which are dangerous. The lineup includes iguanas, pythons, giant African snails, and caimans. Authorities, part of the Seprona environmental division of the Guardia Civil, investigated the property after the owner died, and word […]
In some urban areas, street trees are the only close reminder of the wild natural world beyond the city limits of concrete and steel. A new study estimates that by 2050, 1.4 million street trees in the U.S. — which make up only a fraction of total urban trees — will be killed by invasive insects.
By Frank A. Hale The spotted lanternfly was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to 26 counties in that state and at least six other eastern states. It’s moving into southern New England, Ohio and Indiana. This approximately 1-inch-long species from Asia has attractive polka-dotted front wings but can infest and […]
By Federico Kacoliris The El Rincon stream frog only lives in hot springs at the headwaters of a small Patagonian stream. With just a handful of decimated populations remaining, the critically endangered frog is struggling to survive. Species name: El Rincon stream frog, also known as the Somuncura or Valcheta frog (Pleurodema somuncurense) Description: This […]