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.

Unlike many other species of amphibians, the cane toad is thriving. It was introduced to Australia (and other places, such as Hawaii) to get rid of pest insects in sugar cane plantations. It had no ...

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 ...

Field work is underway near Broome where researchers are deliberately breeding the invasive cane toad as part of a strategy ...

Rick Shine receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Georgia Ward-Fear does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit ...

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 ...