When it comes to the modern world and the amount of travel that humans do, you can also be sure that pests are doing just as much traveling. Because wherever humans go, small pests will tag along with them. Almost every invasive species in the modern world was brought here by human forms of travel, such as ship, plain and even train (Central and South America). In today’s blog we would like to discuss the most common, and by definition, most problematic invasive species in America.
- Asian Carp: These fish are native to Asia and were introduced to the United States in the 1970s to help control algae growth in aquaculture ponds. However, they quickly escaped and have since spread throughout the Mississippi River basin, where they pose a threat to native fish species and can disrupt entire aquatic ecosystems.
- Burmese Python: These snakes are native to Southeast Asia but were introduced to the United States as exotic pets. Unfortunately, many owners released their snakes into the wild when they grew too large to handle, and the pythons have since become established in the Everglades in Florida. They can grow up to 20 feet long, and they have been known to prey on a wide variety of native wildlife, including birds, mammals, and reptiles.
- Zebra Mussel: These small, striped mussels are native to Eurasia but were introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1980s through ballast water from ships. They have since spread throughout many waterways in the eastern and midwestern United States, where they can clog water intake pipes and disrupt aquatic ecosystems by outcompeting native species for resources.
- Kudzu: This fast-growing vine is native to Asia but was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as a decorative plant and erosion control measure. Unfortunately, it quickly became invasive, spreading rapidly and smothering native plants. It is now a major problem in the southeastern United States, where it covers millions of acres and can even grow over buildings and trees.
- Emerald Ash Borer: This invasive beetle is native to Asia and was first discovered in the United States in 2002 in Michigan. Since then, it has spread to many states in the eastern and midwestern United States, where it has killed tens of millions of ash trees. This has not only had a major impact on the ecosystem, but it has also cost billions of dollars in damage and removal costs for affected communities.
When it comes to our own town, pest control in Melbourne, Florida is a challenge on its own. The German Cockroach and various ant species from South Ameircan present a very formidable challenge.
Over the years there have been many pest control methods developed and tried in order to deal with these invasive creatures but our most modern methods are very effective when executed properly.
Some species, like the Burmese Pythons of the Everglades, we think will never be conquered and that is unfortunate for the wildlife of that precious habitiat.
