296 ANTHROPOGENIC LOSSES AND THREATS TO ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS
Box 11.2 Some of the worst invasive alien species on islands
The examples given here demonstrate that
problematic aliens that have invaded islands across
the world are drawn from many higher taxa, and
originate from all parts of the globe. Althoughmost of these problematic invasives are continental
in origin, some are drawn from other islands.
Sources: Cronk and Fuller (1995); IUCN/SSC
Invasive Species Specialist Group (2004)Invasive alien species on islandsCommon name Scientific name Origin Islands invadedInsects
Black twig borer Xylosandrus compactus Asia Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Java,
Sumatra, Fiji
Crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes West Africa Hawaii, Seychelles, Zanzibar, Christmas Island
Common malaria Anopheles unknown Hawaii
mosquito quadrimaculatus
Formosan subterranean Coptotermes formosanus China Hawaii
termite
Tropical fire ant Solenopsis geminata Central America Hawaii
Argentinian ant Linephitema humilis South America Worldwide
Little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata Tropical America Galápagos, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands,
Hawaii, Vanuatu
Worms
Triclad flatworm Platydemus manokwari New Guinea Hawaii, Guam, Marianas
Snails
Rosy wolfsnail Euglandina rosea SW United States French Polynesia, Hawaii, Bermuda, Bahamas
Giant Africa snail Achatina fulica NE Africa Hawaii, Samoa, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tahiti
Golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata South America Japan, Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea
Amphibians
Giant toad Bufo marinus Central America Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Guam, Marianas, Caroline and
Solomon Is.
Caribbean tree frog Eleutherodactylus coqui Puerto Rico Hawaii, Virgin Islands
Reptiles
Brown tree snake Boiga irregularis Australasia Guam
Birds
Indian myna bird Acridotheres trisitis India New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, Cook
Red-vented bulbul Pycnonotus cafer South Asia Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii
Mammals
European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Western Europe New Zealand
Brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula Australia New Zealand
Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis North America Great Britain, Ireland
Stoat Mustela erminea Holarctic New Zealand
Long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis South East Asia Mauritius
House mouse Mus musculus India Worldwide
Feral pig Sus scrofa unknown New Zealand,
Hawaii, Galápagos
Small Indian mongoose Herpestes javanicus South Asia Mauritius, Fiji, West Indies, Hawaii
Domestic cat Felis catus Unknown? Worldwide
Feral goat Capra hircus Asia Worldwide
Maori rat Rattus exulans South Asia Marianas, New Zealand, Hawaii, Polinesia