Lord Howe Island got rid of its rats and mice – now cockroaches and bugs are bouncing back
Key takeaways
- The Lord Howe Island stag beetle is among the invertebrates that have begun to thrive after a rodent eradication program was successful.
- Prefer the Guardian on GoogleIn the summer months, Lord Howe Island’s unique stag beetle, with wing cases that appear forged from iridescent green metal, fly around the ancient tree tops looking for a mate.
- “That’s really something wonderful,” said Ian Hutton, a naturalist and nature guide on the World Heritage-listed island.
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The Lord Howe Island stag beetle is among the invertebrates that have begun to thrive after a rodent eradication program was successful. Photograph: Ian Hutton View image in fullscreen The Lord Howe Island stag beetle is among the invertebrates that have begun to thrive after a rodent eradication program was successful. Photograph: Ian Hutton Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island got rid of its rats and mice – now cockroaches and bugs are bouncing back Rodents arrived on the subtropical island more than a century ago, decimating its native flora and fauna – but its invertebrates are once again booming
Prefer the Guardian on GoogleIn the summer months, Lord Howe Island’s unique stag beetle, with wing cases that appear forged from iridescent green metal, fly around the ancient tree tops looking for a mate.
“That’s really something wonderful,” said Ian Hutton, a naturalist and nature guide on the World Heritage-listed island.