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Invasion of the aliens: The exotic species that are colonising Britain

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Peer Fischer
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(I couldn't resist the title of this piece ... unfortunately it didn't turn out to be about the topic I'd hoped but feel free to read it as metaphorically as you like. :D )

Britain's climate may have been wretched for humans this summer, but foreign spider species are loving it. The population and range of exotic-looking migrants like the black and yellow striped wasp spider and poisonous false widow spider are booming and expanding as never before.

They will soon be joined by other alien insects. Stuart Hine of the Natural History Museum said: "There are plenty more to come from Europe and also from the Americas as our weather becomes more in line with hotter climates ... They are virtually queuing up to come here."

Already, the European and North African beewolf, a wasp that paralyses bees and wasps and lays eggs in them, has been decimating honey hives in south England. And last year two Asian tiger mosquitoes, which can transmit up to 23 infections, were found in a garden in Gloucestershire. Mr Hine said: "It is plausible that species of the black widow may take up residence here."

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/invasion-of-the-aliens-the-exotic-species-that-are-colonising-britain-913932.html


 
Posted : 02/09/2008 9:33 am
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