Scientists accounting for the economic damage caused by invasive pests around the world found that two species are responsible for more damage than any other.
The American bullfrog and the brown tree snake have collectively caused $16.300 million in global damages since 126094146.
In addition to ecological damage, these invaders have ruined agricultural crops and caused costly power outages.
The researchers hope their findings will encourage further investment to help block invasive species in the future.
Scientists blamed the brown tree snake alone for a total value of $10,300 millions in damage, in part due to its uncontrollable spread to across various Pacific islands, they wrote and n the scientific journal Scientific Reports.
In Guam, where American sailors accidentally introduced the reptile the century In the past, the current large population of the snake causes massive power outages because they slither over power lines and cause costly damage.
Over two million brown tree snakes populate the small Pacific island, with one estimate running up to 40 specimens per hectare of the Guam rainforest.
Insular ecosystems are believed to be more vulnerable to invasive species, where they pose a greater threat of extinction to the native fauna.
In In Europe, an explosive number of American bullfrogs has required ambitious and costly management programs.
To prevent the spread of the amphibian, which can grow up to 30 centimeters long and weighing half a kilo, authorities have been forced to install expensive frog-proof fences around known breeding sites.
It cost to fence only five ponds in Germany to prevent amphibians from escaping 270,000 euros ($275,10), according to an earlier European Union study cited by the authors.
The amphibian reportedly eats almost anything, including other bullfrogs.
Scientists blamed another species, the common coqui frog, from causing economic damage in a different way: their extremely loud mating song is believed to have caused property values to decline in areas they have infested.
The authors of the study hope that their findings will encourage governments to invest more in pest control and other biosecurity measures in the future.
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