{"id":47500,"date":"2025-01-24T11:31:16","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T11:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/warning-of-stowaway-snakes-and-tree-frogs-hiding-in-pot-plants\/"},"modified":"2025-01-24T11:31:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T11:31:17","slug":"warning-of-stowaway-snakes-and-tree-frogs-hiding-in-pot-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/warning-of-stowaway-snakes-and-tree-frogs-hiding-in-pot-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"Warning of stowaway snakes and tree-frogs hiding in pot plants"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Helen Briggs<\/span><\/p>\n
BBC environment correspondent\u2022<\/span>@hbriggs<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"GettyGetty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A snake was discovered on ornamental trees transported across mainland Europe<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Frogs, lizards, snakes, spiders and other insect pests are being transported across the world on cut flowers and potted plants, with the potential to harm nature, according to scientists.<\/p>\n

These “hitchhiking intruders” have included a tree frog that emerged from roses at a florist’s shop in Sheffield and snakes discovered in ornamental olive trees shipped across mainland Europe.<\/p>\n

The shipments could also contain invasive pests capable of causing severe damage to crops and the countryside, say researchers at the University of Cambridge.<\/p>\n

With the global market for plants, bulbs and cut flowers expanding rapidly, they say improved standards are urgently needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"ElsEls Fransen Ravon<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Italian wall lizard found on a potted plant imported to The Netherlands<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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“Adult snakes and lizards are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Prof William Sutherland, of the University of Cambridge. “If they’re getting through, what’s the chance of us spotting small insects and fungi \u2013 the things that really cause the problems?”<\/p>\n

The production of ornamental plants is growing fast and expanding geographically, particularly in East Africa and South America.<\/p>\n

While regulations and border checks are in place, the sheer volume of cut flowers and ornamental plants being traded at speed makes it extremely difficult to intercept all the pests and diseases they carry, said Dr Silviu Petrovan of the University of Cambridge.<\/p>\n

“Even with the best of intentions, unwanted hitchhikers are getting through customs import checks all the time,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"UniversityUniversity of Cambridge<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Continental European snakes, geckos and lizards have been found in imports of ornamental olive trees in The Netherlands<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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The reptile expert was once called in to identify a live frog at a florist’s in Sheffield.<\/p>\n

He thought it was a prank, but was stunned to find it was a tree-frog that had arrived with roses from Colombia via Ecuador.<\/p>\n

Frogs, lizards and insects pests are the main stowaways detected in the UK. <\/p>\n

Across mainland Europe, a number of exotic reptiles and amphibians have been accidentally discovered, particularly in potted olive trees:<\/p>\n