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From Pest Control to Pest: Invasive Species

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From Pest Control to Pest: Invasive Species

In the world of biological pest control, entomologists have sometimes erred by introducing new species to control endemic ones. Now the lessons have been learned but at what cost. In Australia, the cost is adding up. The Cane Toad was introduced from Hawaii in the 1930′s to control scarab beetles. Over eighty years have passed and now the Cane Toad has reached pest proportions. The Cane Toad has no natural predator in Australia because of the toxic venom sac on its head. The toads are advancing rapidly and the race is on to save the species that might try to eat them.

Australia’s native species are some of the most diverse in the world because they have been isolated from the rest of the world; they exist nowhere else. Some, like the Quolls, have become endangered because of eating cane toads. A new initiative is being implemented to “train” Australian wildlife to recognize the toad as “bad.” Sausage-shaped treats are made of the toad meat, but has a foul taste that makes the animals nauseous. Hopefully, once the wildlife of the outback learns the foul taste and associates it with what a toad smells like, then when they encounter the toad they won’t eat it.

Bufo marinus, the Cane toad, is also a danger to animals in the US where it was introduced to defeat pests that eat sugar cane. The frogs have poisoned many dogs and in dry seasons pet owners are warned against the wandering toads. If the initiative to train the Australian wildlife works, it may work for pets as well. There is only one problem, there is still no way to control these toads. Their poison is strong enough to kill snakes and other native predators which could upset the local ecological balance in many regions. The toad is common in Southern Texas, and in Florida these creatures have spread from the Keys to Tampa; they are steadily heading north. They are considered a pest in every country where they were introduced except in Fiji where they are considered neutral.

Recent advances in biological controls have taken the place of the haphazard introduction of invasive pests. Many people are still opposed to all types of pest control because of the mistakes of the past. The science of entomology is in its infancy as is the science of biology, when compared to other life sciences. The more we look into the mistakes of the past, the less likely we are to make similar mistakes in the future. Termite control in Glendale uses the latest approved methods for all residential and commercial pest control needs. Pest management professionals are dedicated to using integrated pest management methods, without introducing new predators that may one day become invasive pests.


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