From alien ant species at war, to the bloodthirsty tiger mosquito; These are 11 of the worlds worst invasive species!\r
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Northern Snakehead Fish\r
This critter originated in China and first appeared in the US in 2002. The fish are known for their insatiable appetites … leading the Snakeheads to lay waste to native populations … And destroying the ecosystems of lakes, streams and ponds. That has led to wildlife officials in Maryland to encourage fishermen to ively catch and kill the Snakehead fish for food … by offering them cash rewards! Efforts to combat the fish have also included electrocuting the them when theyre grouped together in the water. Did you know these creatures can live for several days out of water, and can migrate over land for short distances? Because they can grow to sizes of 4 feet, theyre often referred to as \r
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Ant Warfare\r
Did you know that ants have been waging a war right beneath your feet? Two invasive species of ants have been fighting for territory in the US. Lately, it seems that Asian Needle Ants have been winning their battles with Argentine Ants … known as the USs most well known invasive species. They arrived in the 19th century and spread across the country forming super colonies with their territorial behavior. But Asian ants have been supplanting them as the dominant invasive species … and are steadily gaining footholds in areas from New York to Oregon. The Asian ants arrived in the 1930s, and are known to inflict itchy bites on humans … which can cause anaphylic shock in people allergic to the ants venom. This species is more aggressive than the Argentine ants, and is steadily marching into forests and urban areas. Experts think the Asian Needle Ants pose the next major invasion of foreign ants in the United States. \r
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Cane Toads\r
The notorious amphibians are native to Central and South America, but theyve been exported to many places around the world … including Florida, islands in the Caribbean and Hawaii, and Australia. Ironically, they were originally introduced by farmers in order to get rid of local pests found on sugarcane -- hence their name. Instead, the toads became a major nuisance unto themselves. Theyre big critters with sizes recorded up to 8 inches long and weighing around 2 pounds. Their voracious appetites endanger many native species. And due to toxins found in the amphibians skin, predators who try to eat them are often killed. Cane toads likely wont be going away anytime soon thanks to their impressive reproductive capabilities … Did you know that around 102 canes toads were released in Australia in 1935 to combat the Greyback Cane Beetle … in new it was estimated that more than 2 billion cane toads inhabited Oz. \r
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Fifi/Cane Toad (thumb?)\r
Following up on that segment about Cane Toads … We found this story involving the critters in Australia. The Dreamland Theme Park in Queensland has enlisted a massive toad called Fifi to serve as the face of a campaign to reduce the population of the animals. She weighs over 3 pounds, and is fed a diet of bats, mice and snakes. The campaign is evidently meant to illustrate why these animals are considered unstoppable eating machines … and Fifi does provide a vivid example of that … even if she kinda looks like Jabba the Hut. \r
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1.Asian Tiger Mosquito\r
Distinguished by its black and white markings, and aggressive disposition, this insect is native to rainforests of Asia … but has spread from Europe to Africa, the Middle East and the US. And while mosquitoes are generally regards as pests, this one is regarded as particularly nasty. It doesnt need tropical environments to survive … it can thrive in temperate and urban habitats, and is ive throughout the day … not only at dusk or dawn, like many mosquitoes. It carries 20 different diseases including yellow fever and encephalitis … and has a taste for human blood. Its capable of inflicting 50 bites within 15 minutes! The insect is regarded as a resilient hitchhiker that arrived in the mainland US in the mid-1980s, aboard a shipment of tires … since then, its been found in 26 states, mostly in coastal areas. Experts say that one plan to thwart the mosquitoes rising numbers is the introduction of genetically modified males into the population. They only live long enough to breed, and pass along a gene programmed to kill the larvae soon after hatching.