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I’m normally delighted to see Eire’s Wildlife featured within the media — however a latest article revealed within the Gardening part of the RSVP Journal web site has me lower than thrilled.

The article in query sensationalises the connection between frog-hoppers/spittle bugs (their American title) and a bacterial plant illness referred to as Xylella fastidiosa. Sure, in areas the place Xylella happens, sap-sucking bugs like frog-hoppers usually turn out to be vectors by means of which the pathogen spreads to different close by vegetation, nevertheless, Xylella is NOT CAUSED by the insect, and the frothy spittle so widespread on vegetation all through the Irish countryside in early summer time IS NOT an indication of illness. In truth, it’s a completely regular a part of a wholesome Irish ecosystem.

We’ve got by no means had a confirmed circumstances of Xyllela right here in Eire, they usually have recorded none to this point within the UK both. For now not less than, it merely doesn’t happen right here.

The RSVP Journal article latches on to a official name for info from scientist within the UK, and twists it into one thing altogether extra sinister. All of the scientists are asking for is for the general public to submit information of cuckoo spit and grownup frog-hoppers, serving to them to map their distribution. That information will assist them make extra knowledgeable selections on how finest to reply IF Xylella ever does arrive.

Simply to be 100% clear right here: these scientists are not suggesting cuckoo spit is in any means dangerous, they’re not calling for anybody to regulate frog hoppers or eradicate cuckoo spit of their gardens or anyplace else. They’re simply gathering information to higher perceive their distribution.

To summarise:

• Xylella fastidiosa has by no means been recorded in Eire
• Frog Hoppers / Spittle Bugs are widespread, widespread native Irish bugs
• They DO NOT trigger illness in vegetation (though the place Xylella is current they’ll unfold it)
• Cuckoo Spit is NOT A SIGN OF DISEASE: it’s a regular a part of a wholesome, functioning Irish ecosystem
• There isn’t a viable motive to take away cuckoo spit from vegetation in your backyard

Discover out extra concerning the fascinating Frequent Frog Hopper right here. If you happen to’re involved in discovering out extra concerning the state of affairs surrounding Xylella, right here’s a complete overview of Xylella and frog-hoppers within the UK that’s properly introduced and fact-based.

The hazards of poor reporting in a Biodiversity Disaster

No one is denying that Xylella is a critical illness, and has brought on devastation in elements of mainland Europe (significantly to Italian olive groves). Measures to regulate and limit the unfold of the micro organism that causes the illness are fully warranted. What’s unwarranted is equivocal reporting that misrepresents the information, casting a innocent constituent of our native biodiversity because the villain in a contrived and appallingly inaccurate narrative.

Wildlife isn’t any stranger to being forged because the scapegoat for human-induced issues within the pure world, however amidst a biodiversity disaster, articles just like the RSVP one, that sensationalise danger, foster suspicion and demonise a local species, could be extremely damaging. We’ve been receiving emails and messages since this text went out from folks asking how they’ll eradicate cuckoo spit from their backyard vegetation.

The reply, in fact, is you don’t must do something. Because the BBC Gardener’s World web site advises “It’s finest to depart the froghoppers to get on with being froghoppers.”

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