invasive

Terrapins (Trachemys scripta). Terrapins, also known as sliders, are reptiles that have historically been imported from the USA as pets and farmed for human consumption. There are several subspecies which include the red-eared slider, yellow-bellied slider, Cumberland slider and common slider. They are often bought young as pets, only a few centimetres in size, but soon grow to the size of a dinner plate.

Jersey is home to a wide variety of native wildlife that each play and important role in maintaining the biodiversity of jersey. However, there are some non-native species who can cause damage to environments and outcompete some native wildlife for recourses which causes a huge disruption in the ecosystem. Unfortunately, Jersey contains some of these organisms that damage the environment, these organisms have been named an invasive species. 

As the spring weather warms, a recent addition to Jersey’s biodiversity begins to rouse. Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax, also known as yellow legged hornet) queens emerge from hibernation to create new nests.

 
Asian Hornets were accidentally introduced to France in 2004 and have since spread throughout France, Spain and into Portugal and Italy. Being so close to the Cotentin Peninsular it was only a matter of time before it arrived in Jersey. The first Jersey sighting was in August 2016.