At Buglife we are regularly alerted to exotic grasshoppers, wasps, beetles, spiders and moths arriving at nurseries and garden centres, many of these animals have the potential to damage agriculture, destroy wildlife or distress gardeners,” said Matt Shardlow, Buglife CEO. “The importation of pot plants into the UK is bringing with it an avalanche of harmful and unwanted species. Fewer invertebrates would also have an impact higher up the food chain, while the resulting poorer quality soil could have knock-on effects on everything from flooding - making the soil less able to absorb water - to farming - where crops would be harder to grow. These invertebrates are considered essential for soil health as they aerate and fertilise the earth, maintain its structure and support plant growth. Populations of New Zealand and Australian flatworms are already established in the UK and there are at least 18 flatworms that have been introduced in Europe, including the New Guinea flatworm, listed as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world.įlatworms prey on earthworms and land snails, and in areas where they have already colonised the soil they have reduced some earthworm populations by 20%. It was only described as a new species last year. The worm, which has a broad, flattened, leaf-shaped body and can grow up to 7cm long, was first found in Europe on Guernsey in 2008 but has spread to France, Italy and Spain. Conservationists say this is the “smoking gun” which provides the direct link between the “virtually uncontrolled” trade in pot plants and the spread of invasive species.
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