Warning about rattlesnakes and frogs hiding in potted plants

According to scientists, frogs, lizards, snakes, spiders and other insect pests are carried around the world on cut flowers and potted plants, which can harm nature.

These “hitchhikers” include a frog that emerged from roses in a flower shop in Sheffield and snakes found in ornamental olive trees being shipped across mainland Europe.

The supplies may also contain invasive pests capable of causing serious damage to crops and the countryside, say researchers at the University of Cambridge.

With the global market for plants, bulbs and cut flowers expanding rapidly, they say there is an urgent need to improve standards.

“Adult snakes and lizards are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Professor William Sutherland of the University of Cambridge. “If they’re getting through, what’s the likelihood that we’re going to see small insects and fungi — the things that are really causing problems?”

The production of ornamental plants is growing rapidly and expanding geographically, especially in East Africa and South America.

While regulations and border checks are in place, the sheer volume of cut flowers and ornamentals that are quickly traded makes it extremely difficult to intercept all the pests and diseases they carry, said Dr Silviu Petrovan of the University of Cambridge.

“Even the most well-intentioned, unwanted hitchhikers are subject to customs checks all the time,” he said.

A reptile expert was once called to a florist in Sheffield to identify a live frog.

He thought it was a prank, but was stunned to discover it was a frog that had arrived with the roses from Colombia via Ecuador.

Frogs, lizards and insect pests are the main stowaways found in the UK.

Across continental Europe, many exotic reptiles and amphibians have been discovered by chance, particularly in potted olive trees:

• Lizards, such as geckos, and several species of snakes of continental Europe

• A large number of insect pests.

In a study published in the journal Biosciencethe team analyzed records of pests found in ornamental plants at customs in the Netherlands for 2017-2018 and reported to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for 2021-2023.

They call for improved production standards and the collection and dissemination of data on specific risks in the trade.

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