Continental European snakes, geckos and Italian wall lizards are making their way to northern Europe undetected among imports of ornamental olive trees destined for gardens and green spaces.
Mandarin Rat Snakes display bold black-and-yellow geometric patterns on their bodies. They are found in the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, and nearby areas. King Cobras are the world's longest ...
These "hitchhiking intruders" have included a tree frog that emerged from roses at a florist's shop in Sheffield and snakes discovered in ornamental olive trees shipped across mainland Europe.
"Adult snakes and lizards are just the tip of the iceberg," said Prof William Sutherland, of the University of Cambridge. "If they're getting through, what's the chance of us spotting small insects ...