The reporter learned from the Langfang Inspection and Quarantine Bureau that on November 1, a foreign contracted engineering equipment of an enterprise in Langfang was transported back from Papua New Guinea, and in the process of inspection and quarantine, live pythons were found in the equipment. The machinery is mainly used for pipe repair, used in remote fields, and pythons should be drilled in by accident. The entry of live pythons with incoming goods is the first time in Hebei.
It has been identified as a carpet python, also known as a diamond python, a species of tree python in the suborder Anthopheae, named after the pattern that resembles a carpet. Carpet python is distributed in Australia, New Guinea and some islands in Indonesia, divided into 6 subspecies, with a total length of 125-130 cm, and the body color varies according to the geographical environment. Carpet pythons are arboreal snakes that prefer to hover over low trees and hunt at night, mostly feeding on birds and rodents. The pythons caught this time are juvenile pythons with a body length measured at 125-130 cm.
So, are carpet pythons aliens?
For a particular ecosystem and habitat, any non-native organism is called an alien organism, which refers to a species, subspecies or lower taxonomy that appears outside its natural distribution range (past or present) and distribution location (i.e., naturally colonized outside its original distribution range, or cannot be colonized without direct or indirect introduction, or cannot be colonized without human activity), including any part, gamete or breeding body of these species that can survive and reproduce.
Alien organisms threaten native organisms through competition, predation, grazing, habitat modification and disease transmission, affecting indigenous biodiversity and causing biodiversity loss.
Geographically , carpet pythons are found in Australia , New Guinea and some islands in Indonesia.
It can be seen that carpet pythons belong to exotic organisms.
Alien organisms intercepted in Hebei this year
The interception of 13 species of alien organisms on the shore of Huanghua Port is the first time in China
In September this year, when the staff of the Huanghua Port Inspection and Quarantine Bureau quarantined the first imported Turkish marble container, they found a variety of insect pests, and the bedding did not have ipPC identification, split the mat, and found live white larvae. The staff immediately took samples and sent them to the Technical Center of Hebei Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau for identification, and at the same time fumigated and harmlessly treated the containers and gaskets respectively. After identification, a total of 13 species of pests were intercepted, of which 1 live larvae and adult were identified as Pogonocherus perroudi species of the genus Mangtian cattle, which was the first interception in China, and two species were identified as brown mushroom cryptophilus integer (Heer) and Asian dicolor mushroom nail Litargus antennatus Miyataka, which was the first interception in Hebei Province.
Live larvae of the genus Mantenho. Courtesy of Huanghua Port Inspection and Quarantine Bureau
Mangtian cattle perroudi species Pogonocherus perroudi is a forest pest of the Tianniu family, the data show that the same genus of Tianniu can endanger pine genus, holly, etc., the harm of this species of Tianniu needs to be further studied, but because this species has no distribution record in China, and the intercepted insect body is alive, if introduced and colonized, it will cause unpredictable harm.
Brown mushroom nail picture. Courtesy of Huanghua Port Inspection and Quarantine Bureau
The brown mushroom cryptophilus integer (Heer) is a storage pest that feeds on fungi and mold. It is commonly found in granaries and stored beans, oil, tobacco and medicinal herbs, and is mainly distributed in Europe and North America.
Photo of the Asian dicolor mushroom. Courtesy of Huanghua Port Inspection and Quarantine Bureau
The Asian dichroic mushroom Litargus antennatus Miyataka is also a warehouse pest that is suitable for living in humid environments and feeds mainly on mold. It has been reported in grain processing plants and Chinese herbal medicine stores. It is mostly distributed in Japan.
The interception of 5 species of alien organisms and 3 species of alien organisms on the shore of Huanghua Port is the first time in China
In August, staff of the Huanghua Port Inspection and Quarantine Bureau intercepted five adult species during the entry quarantine of a cargo ship loaded with bauxite from Malaysia, which were identified by the Alien Pest Detection and Identification Center of the Hebei Inspection and Quarantine Bureau: Proteuclasta st?tzeneri Caradja, Erebus macrops (Linnaeus) and Rhyothemis Fuliginosa Selys), Tipulidae of the family Idaidae and Theophoridae species, of which the dry willow borer, the curly nocturnal moth, and the black lily winged dragonfly were intercepted for the first time in China.
Dry willow field borer. Courtesy of Huanghua Port Inspection and Quarantine Bureau
It is worth noting that the dry willow borer, also known as the bar willow borer, belongs to the lepidoptera borer family, distributed in China's Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and other places and Mongolia, Russia, the main host plant is the bar willow, the large occurrence of the year will also endanger the jujube tree. This pest can cause harm to both golden jujube and winter jujube in the Cangzhou area where the port of Huanghua is located.
Curly nocturnal moth. Courtesy of Huanghua Port Inspection and Quarantine Bureau
Curly nocturnal moth, also known as curly nocturnal moth, belongs to the nocturnal moth genus, a large moth, with a wingspan of up to 15 cm, two large eye spots on the forewings, resembling the eyes of an owl, distributed in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hainan and other provinces and Japan, Southeast Asia and other places, the harm to the host is unknown.
Black-winged dragonfly. Courtesy of Huanghua Port Inspection and Quarantine Bureau
Black Li Wing Dragonfly belongs to the Dragonfly family, with a wingspan of up to 8 cm, distributed in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui and other places in China, most of the front and back wings are copper-green, shiny metallic luster, very gorgeous, for predatory beneficial insects.
The Langfang Quarantine Bureau intercepted 4 alien organisms from the container at a time
In June this year, when the Langfang Inspection and Quarantine Bureau carried out on-site unpacking inspection and quarantine of a batch of polyurethane topcoats for imported container goods from Germany, it intercepted 4 kinds of live alien pests from a container at one time, which were identified by the laboratory as curved foot bean elephant, tumor sheath nail, rodent worm and ant.
In recent years, many species that appear in the daily life of the Chinese people, such as Brazilian turtles, Fushou snails, crayfish, water hyacinth, etc. are all alien species. Nowadays, some alien species are often "anti-guest-oriented", destroying the ecological balance and even threatening the personal safety of the people. By the end of 2015, more than 580 species of alien pests had been identified as invading China.
Alien species inventory (partial)
"Canada a yellow flower", also known as yellow warbler, unicorn grass, native to North America, in the mid-1930s as an ornamental plant introduced to Shanghai, Nanjing and other places, and then escaped as a malignant weed, which poses a great threat to China's socio-economic, natural ecosystem and biodiversity. According to the statistics of Shanghai plant experts, in recent decades, "Canada's yellow flower" has led to the demise of more than 30 indigenous plant species. It is a perennial plant with developed rhizomes, strong fecundity, fast propagation speed, obvious growth advantages, broad ecological adaptability, and competing with surrounding plants for sunlight and fertilizer until other plants die, thus posing a serious threat to biodiversity.
This is a harmful plant ragweed photographed in Pujiang, Zhejiang province on October 26, 2004. Ragweed, also known as American Mugwort, native to North America, is a very adaptable, regenerative "plant killer", listed in China's first batch of invasive alien species.
Farmers in Daxu Township, Baohe District, Hefei City, Anhui Province, display a harmful plant with a stem of more than one meter long, hollow lotus grass that has been pulled from the irrigation canal of their own farmland (photographed on August 4, 2004). Produced in Brazil, the hollow lotus grassland, also known as water peanut, revolutionary grass, and drought-loving lotus grass, was introduced to China in the 1930s and is a very harmful species, and is listed as the first invasive alien species in China.
This is the researchers showing the coconut palm leaf beetle, an alien invasive insect that seriously harms palm plants (file photo). It is a highly dangerous alien pest native to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and is now widely distributed in the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. Coconut palm leaf beetle has the characteristics of rapid reproduction, strong destructiveness and difficult control.
Fushou snail swallows seedlings (photo taken on August 20, 2006). Fushou snail, also known as large bottle snail and apple snail, is native to the Amazon River Basin in South America. Introduced to China in the early 1980s as an edible snail, it became a harmful invasive alien species because of its strong adaptability and rapid reproduction.
Mr. Guo of Qinhuangdao shows an accidentally recovered "Brazilian turtle" (photo taken on February 22, 2005). The Brazilian tortoise, also known as the red-eared turtle, is mostly native to Brazil and some to the United States. The Brazilian tortoise is recognized as an ecological killer in the world, and has been listed by the World Environmental Protection Organization as one of the more than 100 most destructive species, and many countries such as China have listed it as a dangerous invasive alien species.
Forestry department staff in Ganyu County, Jiangsu Province, demonstrate American white moth larvae (photo taken on August 2, 2011). Native to North America, the American white moth is a worldwide quarantine pest, mainly harmful to fruit trees, street trees and ornamental trees, and is listed as the first batch of invasive alien species in China.
Scientists display crayfish (june 29, 2003). Crayfish (scientific name crawfish) are native to the southern United States and are the most widely distributed invasive alien species among crustaceans. Because of its omnivorous nature, fast growth rate and strong adaptability, it forms an absolute competitive advantage in the local ecological environment. Crayfish entered China in the early 20th century, posing a great threat to the freshwater fish and shrimp resources of inland rivers.
An invasion "strange fish" found in Beijiang, Guangdong Province, photographed on April 18, 2006. According to fishery sources from the Qingyuan Fishery Administration Department, the "strange fish" is called "Finches", which is a carnivorous exotic fish species from the Americas, which is vicious in nature and has a fast reproduction rate, and once it breeds into a herd, it will directly endanger other fish.
In March 2012, a terrifying parasite was discovered in the Mediterranean, no different from the aliens in science fiction movies, who "captured" the tongue of a snapper and stayed there sucking the blood of the host. The parasite multiplies rapidly in the Mediterranean region, where almost half of the fish are infected by it, and researchers have named it "Betty."
10 years ago, aquarium enthusiasts inadvertently introduced lionfish (aka stingrays) into the Caribbean Sea and the southeastern United States. With no natural enemies, the number of this alien coral species is exploding. To maintain ecological balance, local Divers in Honduras are working with staff at Rodin National Park to train sharks to kill invasive lionfish.
In 1890, an American Shakespeare admirer named Eugene Schifferin released 60 European starlings he had brought back from Europe in New York. He wanted to be able to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's writings into the United States. The following year, he released 40 European starlings for the same purpose. Today, the ubiquitous European starling is not only a noise maker, but also has a huge impact on agricultural production in the United States. It is understood that the annual loss of the American agricultural economy caused by European starlings amounts to 800 million US dollars. In addition, the flight of a large number of birds to aircraft is also a deadly threat.
Zebra shells originally slipped into the United States through the ballast waters of ships. They have blocked pipes since the 1980s. None of them are clogged with thin pipes — and it costs billions of dollars to fix these clogged pipes. Not only do these zebra shells attach to pipes, but they also stick to engines and other local mussels, wreaking havoc on boat owners and killing large numbers of wildlife.
Three major hazards of invasive alien organisms
According to experts, the main hazards of invasive alien organisms are threefold.
The first is to lead to the loss and destruction of ecosystem diversity, species diversity and biological genetic resource diversity. In particular, exotic weeds in invasive areas often lead to the homogenization of flora diversity and the destruction of arable land. The spread of ragweed, purple-stemmed zelan, airplane grass, water hyacinth, rice grass, etc., which invaded our country, has reached a situation that is difficult to control.
The second is the serious economic losses that lead to agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery production. Such as American spotted diving fly, potato beetle, whitefly, pine wood nematode, wetland pine whitefly, American white moth, etc., in recent years, the annual serious occurrence in China has reached more than 3 million hectares.
The third is to threaten human health. Pollen produced by common ragweed and three-lobed ragweed can cause human pollen allergy, leading to hay fever.
The rampant reproduction of the Bichhornia crassipes (commonly known as "water hyacinths") in Chinese the waters of the world is the most typical example of the invasion of alien species.
In 1884, the blue eye lotus native to Venezuela in South America was sent to the Exposition in New Orleans, USA, and people from all over the world saw its gorgeous flowers, so they brought it back to their respective countries as ornamental plants, and the hyacinth, which has a strong reproductive ability, has since become the number one harmful plant in various countries.
In Africa, hyacinths are all over the Nile; in Thailand, hyacinths are all over the Chao Phraya River; and the inland river waterways along the Gulf of Mexico in the southern United States are also blocked by dense layers of hyacinths, which not only causes boats to be impassable, but also leads to the extinction of fish and shrimp, and the river is stinking; and China's Yunnan Dianchi Lake has also been accused by experts of suffering from "ecological cancer" because of the crazy spread of water hyacinth.