In 1935, native beetles were wreaking havoc on Australia’s sugar cane crops in Queensland. The beetle larvae lived in the soil and chewed on sugarcane roots, stunting growth or killing the plants.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Cane toads were introduced to Australia in 1935 to control sugarcane beetles, but the toads ignore the beetles while decimating ...

1935: Cane toads brought to Australia to control Queensland’s cane beetles. Sugar cane was brought to Australia by the First Fleet in 1788. There were repeated small-scale attempts to grow the crop ...

The euthanasia of cane toads under field conditions presents a number of logistical and animal welfare challenges. One recommended method of control involves the use of carbon dioxide in plastic bags.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. Brought in to address a problem, cane toads now represent ...

Cane toads were introduced to Australia in 1935 to control sugarcane beetles, but the toads ignore the beetles while decimating the ecosystem they were meant to protect. Instead, they became a highly ...