Download Alert Species for Aruba

Alert Species for Aruba
Naturalized species, Invasive
species, Alert species
Some commonly used terms
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Naturalized species
– Introduced species, which may have been invasive, have been present
in their new country for a fairly long time and are now considered to be
fully established and “naturalized”. They are found in the wild (plants,
growing in the wild).
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Invasive species
– Recently introduced species, which usually spread out rapidly and have
detrimental effects on the local flora and fauna. Those introduced
species that only maintain themselves in certain areas or a narrow
ecological niche are usually not called invasive.
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Tramp species
– Those species that tend to survive travel in containers, ships, airplanes
etc.
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Alert species
– Those invasive species likely to enter a country, which should be
prevented from entering. Those species about which one should be
“alert”
Of course these definitions contain a subjective element
Naturalized species in Aruba
(a few examples)
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Orange tube coral (Tubastrea coccinia)
Giant milkweed or Madar (Calotropis procera), Pap: Katuna di seda
Several Old world grasses (for example Melinis repens)
Palay rubbervine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) Pap: Palu di lechi
Castor plant (Ricinis communis), Pap: Karpata
Aloe (Aloe vera)
Old World Rats and mice
Rainbow whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus lemniscatus) Pap:
Lagadishi di maishi
Calabash tree (Crescentia cujete)
Calotropis procera, Katuna di seda, Calotrope, Madar
Invasive species in Aruba
(a few examples)
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Boa (Boa constrictor)
Sapo (Bufo marinus)
Causative agent of the1983 long-spined sea urchin disease
Cosmopolitan house gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia), a typical
“tramp species”
Pink mealy bug (Macconellicocus hirsutus). Also attacks wild plants
such as Lignum vitae (Guaiacum officinale), Pap: wayaká
Whistling frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei)
These species have all arrived recently and are very likely “here to stay”.
Most, if not all will become naturalized species.
Some introduced plant diseases also attack wild plants, although these are
generally more resistant
Cosmopolitan house gecko
(Hemidactylus mabouia)
Whistling frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei)
Photo: Els Kroon
Alert species for Aruba
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Varroa mite
Africanized bees
Cactus moth or opuntia moth (Cactoblastis cactorum)
Agave borer (Scyphophorus acupunctatus)
Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta)
Desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca)
Corn snake (Elaphe guttata)
Cuban tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis)
Several plant diseases should also be on any Alert species listing for Aruba,
the list above cites only those plagues which are likely to influence nature
and “Aruba wildlife”. Since Aruba does not have native palms the Red Palm
Weevil and Ganoderma butt rot of palms (Ganoderma zonatum) are not
listed. Nevertheless palms are used extensively in Aruba landscaping, thus
every effort should be made to keep out these very serious palm diseases.
Cactus moth or Nopal moth (Cactoblastis cactorum)
Originates in the Southern parts of South America, has been
introduced in Australia, from Argentina and is nowadays found in
the following counties:
Western hemisphere:
USA. (Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US Virgin
islands including St. Croix), Mexico (also on Cozumel),
Bahamas, Cayman islands, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica,
Dominican Republic, St Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat,
Antigua & Barbuda, Trinidad, Argentina, Southern Brazil,
Paraguay, Uruguay.
Other continents:
Australia, Nouveau Caledonie, Mauritius, Saint-Helena,
South Africa, Tanzania, India and Pakistan
Cactoblastis cactorum
(Cactus moth, Opuntia rups, Bichi di Infrau)
• Agave weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus)
Also found on Yucca and Beaucarnia spp.(Pony tail)
Other names
- Agave Billbug
- Agave Snout-nosed
beetle/weevil
- Sisal Weevil
- Acapiche del nardo
Agave Weevil
The Agave weevil originates in the Western hemisphere,
probably in Mexico and was introduced in many countries
through the export of Sisal plants (Agave sisalana) and other
commercial agaves, it is nowadays found in: USA, Puerto
Rico, US Virgin islands (including St. Croix), BVI, Mexico,
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras,
Cayman islands, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic.
On other continents:
Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, SaudiArabia
If introduced in Aruba the agave weevil would be a
serious threat to the native agaves and also to the
non-native species used in landscaping. Of these
native agaves two are endemic to Aruba
• Agave arubensis. Only found in Rooi Fontein
and its neighbourhood
• Agave rutteniae. Only found on the South slope
of the Hooiberg
The red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)
The red fire ant originates in South America. They are nowadays found in
the South Eastern US, including Florida and in California, Bahamas, Turks
and Caicos, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, St. Croix, Antigua,
Trinidad. These ants have painful stings and a devastating impact on
native animals. Often they are found in imported rolls of grass, which are
used to establish lawns. In South America they tend to form less of a
problem than in the countries in which they have been introduced, their
colonies do not reach the same densities. In their natural environment they
are probably controlled by predators. They can be controlled with
insecticides; Demon, Dursban, Torpedo, Permethrin, Cypermethrin and
Diazinon give some result. However populations rebound quickly and in
the end chemicals are almost totally ineffective. Research to combat them
is focusing on biological control. If this animal is ever introduced the first
colonies have to be eliminated before their nuptial flight begins and the
winged forms (alata) fly out and mate in the air. Once they have spread out
they are almost impossible to combat.
Red fire ant,
Solenopsis invicta
Red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta
(Photo: Texas A&M University)
Desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca), Pap: Korona di
Hesus, Lamunchi shimaron. Introduced in Curaçao from
Egypt in 1882. This tree advances very slowly, yet it is
almost impossible to stop. It has changed the ecology of
the whole Eastern part of Curaçao
Cuban tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis)
Nowadays also present on Bonaire and Curaçao,
where it came in with plants imported from Miami