Number 11 Burmese Python The Burmese python, which is among the largest
snakes in the world, has become an infamous invader of the Everglades. A number of snakes
spread throughout the Floridian wilderness after Hurricane Andrew destroyed a breeding
facility, in 1992. However, many specimens were also released in the wild as a consequence
of the exotic pet trade. These creatures can grow to be over 20 feet long, which is three
times more than Michael Jordan’s height. The serpents use their muscular bodies to
constrict and suffocate prey. In areas where the pythons are well-established, rabbits
and foxes have completely disappeared. Sightings of raccoons, opossums and white-tailed are
unanimously down by over 94%. The only adversaries that these snakes have in the Everglades are
American alligators, which at times become either python predators or prey.
Number 10 Asian Giant Hornet With a wingspan that can grow to be nearly
twice the size of a golf tee, the Asian giant hornet is the world’s largest hornet. These
creatures have recently been making headlines in the US, where the media has dubbed them
“murder hornets”. It’s an apt description since their sting feels, as one entomologist
put it, like a hot nail was being driven into his leg. Multiple doses of their potent venom
can lead to death by cardiac arrest or anaphylactic shock. Known by its scientific name as Vespa
mandarinia, the creature was first reported on Vancouver Island and then in Washington.
A full-scale hunt was promptly launched to prevent the hornet from spreading to the point
that eradication becomes impossible. Should that happen, it would be dangerous for humans
but catastrophic for honey bees. A single Asian giant hornet can use its massive mandibles
to decapitate up to 40 bees per minute. In the absence of swift eradication, these creatures
could decimate North America’s honey bee population.
Number 9 Nutria The coypu, also known as the nutria, is a
semi-aquatic rodent capable of such destruction that marshes may be turned into open water.
The herbivores basically look like giant rats and consume up to a quarter of their body
weight every day. They’ll eat the stems of above-ground plants and then burrow through
the organic soil. Nutrias will thus create “eat-outs” by removing large patches of
biomass. This affects animals in the habitat but also people who are dependent on marshes
and swamps. These creatures are most abundant in Louisiana, where they were introduced in
the 1930s. They were initially part of fur farms but eventually escaped and spread, wreaking
havoc on wetlands. Even though these areas only cover 5% of the contiguous lands mass
of the US, they’re home to almost a third of all plant species. They’re a valuable
environmental and economical resource that’s greatly threatened by nutria herbivory.
Number 8 Wild Hog There’s a distinction to be made among the
North American pig populations, commonly grouped under the term wild hogs or razorbacks. The
name is used in reference to actual wild boars, introduced in the 19th century, and feral
pigs, descendants of pigs that were once domestic. These pig variations may resemble each other
closely and often interbreed, having a high reproductive rate. Wild hogs are among the
most destructive species on the southern prairies of Canada and the United States, where their
numbers are in excess of 6 million. These creatures are omnivores and plants make up
the bulk of their diet. They forage by rooting under the ground with their snout or tusks.
They’re a growing concern as they cause billions of dollars in property and agricultural
damage every year. Wild hogs fragment habitats, prey on local fauna and are known to attack
humans. Moreover, they’re hosts to over 34 pathogens transmittable to humans, wildlife
and livestock. One enforced control method has been shooting them from a helicopter.
It’s legal in Texas, the state most abundant in wild hogs.
Number 7 Africanized Bee It seemed only appropriate that, since we’ve
covered murder hornets, we also give killer bees a spot on our list. The Africanized honey
bee was introduced in Brazil, in the late 1950s, in an attempt to enhance honey production.
Several dozen swarms escaped quarantine, spread throughout Latin America and reached North
America in the mid-1980s. Killer bees are faster and stronger than their European counterparts.
As such, they’re perfectly capable of taking over hives, whether through mating or force,
and of outcompeting them. Studies have shown that they can work longer, in harsher conditions
and that they’re more resistant to parasites. All these attributes make Africanized killer
bees superior honey producers. However, they’re much more aggressive and dangerous to humans.
They’ll attack perceived threats more readily, in greater numbers and pursue them farther.
Victims sustain up to ten times more stings and may die from allergic reactions or by
injuries sustained while trying to get away. Number 6 Red Lionfish
Petrolis voltains, commonly known as the red lionfish, has become a significant invader
in the Caribbean and on the East Coast of the United States. The lionfish is named after
the mane-like grouping of venomous spines on its body. These are redoubtable defensive
weapons. Although typically non-fatal to humans, the sting of a red lionfish is incredibly
painful and can cause headaches, vomiting and breathing difficulties. These creatures
were introduced off the coast of Florida, in the mid-1980s, most likely as a result
of the aquarium trade. Most of the larger fish in the Atlantic and the Caribbean avoid
them because of their spines but also because they’ve yet to recognize them as prey. Consequently,
these voracious feeders have outcompeted many of the native species. This is further underlined
by the fact that red lionfish tend to be more massive in areas where they aren’t indigenous.
Number 5 Giant African Land Snail The giant African land snail is the most frequently-occurring
invasive snail species in the world. It’s also among the most destructive and a creature
which, in the United States, has been given top national quarantine significance. That’s
because the snail is host to a number of pathogens that are transmittable to plants as well as
humans. One of them is a nematode that causes meningitis. Merely handling the snail species
carries the risk of infection. It’s considered to be a highly-destructive pest as it feeds
on a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and plant material. It’s a creature with an
insatiable appetite that extends far beyond organic material. It also feeds on cardboard,
paper, sand and very small stones. The giant African land snail may even damage buildings
by consuming stucco, concrete and other similar materials as a source of calcium. It’s a
rare occurrence, but the snail species is also known for cannibalism.
Number 4 Nile Monitor Lizard For years, the exotic pet trade has been a
growing concern in Florida. The state is home to more invasive species than any other region
in the country. Even enormous reptile specimens, like the Nile crocodile, have been found in
the Floridian wilderness. There are no signs, however, that Nile crocodiles have established
breeding populations. Nile monitor lizards, on the other hand, have managed to do so,
particularly in Lee County. The creatures have a generalist diet that translates into
disaster for indigenous species. Additionally, they’ve been connected to livestock and
pet disappearances. The lizards have a high reproduction rate and can survive both in
fresh and salt water. Number 3 Asian Tiger Mosquito
It’s widely known that mosquitoes kill more people per year than any other living being
on Earth. According to recent estimates, there are over a million human deaths from mosquito
bites recorded each year. In the early 1980s, a particularly dangerous type of mosquito
found its way to the US in a shipment of used tires. The Asian tiger mosquito then steadily
spread to 40 states and is expected to continue its expansion. This creature draws its name
from the striking black and white pattern on its body. It has a rapid bite that often
allows the mosquito to escape without being swatted. Females lay their eggs basically
wherever there’s water to be found, whether it’s running or in stagnant pools. Less
than an ounce of water is sufficient for the development of larvae. Since it’s remarkably
adaptable, lives close to humans and because of its reproductive biology, the mosquito
is nearly impossible to control. A 2019 study in Nature Microbiology analyzed future trends
such as urbanization, human expansion and climate change. The study concluded that the
Asian tiger mosquito population was likely to continue growing in the coming decades.
It’s a grim prognosis since the insects are known transmitters of yellow fever, Chikungunya
fever and dengue fever as well as viruses like Usutu and Zika.
Number 2 Asian Long-Horned Beetle In the United States alone, the Asian long-horned
beetle has the potential of destroying nearly a third of all urban trees. This, in turn,
would cause $669 billion in economic loss. This creature, endemic to China and Korea,
was accidentally introduced through solid wood packaging material. The Asian long-horned
beetle destroys trees to such an extent that it changes both forest and urban ecosystems.
It’s a known threat to several species of trees in North America, including birch, ash,
poplar and maple. Females will chew a hole through the bark of a host tree then lay their
eggs inside. The larvae may grow to be up to 2 inches, or the average length of a house
key. They create a feeding gallery inside the tree and progress towards the heartwood
as they mature. A single larva can consume up to 60 cubic inches of wood in its lifetime,
which is more than half the size of the average human stomach. Eradication involves removing
infected trees and treatment with insecticides. In 2019, New York City declared the creature
eradicated after a battle that had lasted roughly 23 years. Nevertheless, the Asian
long-horned beetle is still prevalent in many areas with infected trees being constantly
discovered. Number 1 European Starling
The mind-boggling spread of the European starling across North America can be traced back to
a single man. In 1890, amateur ornithologist Eugene Schieffelin released 60 of these birds
in New York’s Central Park. The backstory is that he was trying to introduce to North
America every bird mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare. In the years that
followed, those initial 60 birds grew to a population of over 150 million. They’re
currently distributed from southern Canada and Alaska, throughout the US and into Central
America. These birds form huge flocks that ravage plantations of olives, currants, tomatoes,
peaches, grapes and many more. Their agricultural damage in the US is estimated at $800 million
each year. The enormous starling flocks are also dangerous when it comes to air traffic
as they might get sucked into aircraft jet engines. One such incident occurred in Boston,
in 1960, when a turboprop airliner flew into a flock and then crashed into Winthrop Harbor.
Thanks for watching! Would you rather try to wrestle a Burmese python OR ride a wild
boar? Let us know in the comments section below!