Undesirable immigrants: hobbyist vivaria as a potential source of alien invertebrate species

Coecobrya tenebricosa

• A 2019 study lists the origin as the USA and the known range as the USA, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, France and Poland. It was found in Polish cities because wholesalers sold it as food for tropical frogs. (at Results, recorded taxa)
• Two Polish wholesalers sent it to 56 cities in nine months, and one reached the Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden as well. The authors treat vivarium hobbies as a fast route for moving small invertebrates between countries. (at Results, diversity of invertebrates in terraria)
• A DNA barcode study placed Polish vivarium specimens in one barcode cluster, BIN ACZ2224, which matches the species name. A barcode cluster is a convenient grouping and is not the same as a species. (at Table 1 and Supplemental Information 8)
• It is sold as a cleanup crew and as food for small tropical frogs, and one seller recommends it as a single-species pick for isopod tubs. (at Results, recorded taxa)
• Springtails US stocks it. A 2019 study found wholesalers selling it to hobbyists in Poland. (at Results, recorded taxa)