A Colombian tree frog has been discovered in a florist’s shop in Sheffield, highlighting the growing threat of invasive species reaching the UK through the horticulture trade.
The Hidden Threat of Invasive Species in the Horticulture Trade
The discovery of a Colombian tree frog found in a florist’s shop in Sheffield has shed light on the growing threat of invasive species reaching the UK‘s shores through the horticulture trade. As climate change brings warmer and more humid temperatures, scientists warn that pests and diseases are becoming increasingly difficult to detect.
The Journey of the Frog
The tiny tree frog hitchhiking in a bunch of roses from Colombia had a remarkable journey. Dr. Silviu Petrovan, a researcher at the University of Cambridge’s zoology department, was asked to identify the live frog found in the florist’s shop. Initially thinking it was a prank, he eventually realized that the frog must have perched among the flowers all the way from Colombia via Ecuador.
“This finding made me realize that if you can get this type of fragile, small vertebrate arriving alive in a flower shipment without being noticed at customs, just how hard it must be to detect very small agricultural insect pests or their eggs,” said Petrovan.
The Risks of Invasive Species
The UK is vulnerable to pests and diseases arriving through the horticulture trade. Climate breakdown brings warmer temperatures enjoyed by insects and diseases, making them more likely to thrive in the country. Scientists believe it’s only a matter of time before devastating pests like Xylella fastidiosa arrive in the UK.
Invasive pests and diseases such as ash dieback and the Asian hornet have already arrived in the UK, causing huge problems for native wildlife. The researchers analyzed records of pests found in ornamental plants at customs in the Netherlands in 2017-2018 and reported to Defra in the UK in 2021-2023.
The Scope of the Problem
The team found that more than 80% of the pests intercepted were insects, while continental European snakes, geckos, and Italian wall lizards were also making their way to northern Europe undetected among imports of ornamental olive trees. European tree frogs were often found on cut flowers in the Netherlands.
Spiders, fungi, insects, and other reptiles were also hitching rides around the world. The sheer volume of cut flowers and ornamental plants being traded at speed around the world makes it extremely difficult to intercept all the pests and diseases they carry.
A Call for Better Regulation
The researchers are calling for better regulation around the ornamental plant trade. They believe that any policies should be carefully designed, taking into account the importance of the trade for economies worldwide and the creation of jobs in rural areas.
“We absolutely don’t want to encourage kneejerk reactions that might be well-meaning, but actually cause more problems than they solve,” said Petrovan. “We need to push to make the industry more sustainable through things like certifications and better regulation, and to work with those involved in the trade to better understand the risks and how to mitigate them.
