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The Plague of Frogs

Posted by michael on from the gnats-hail-and-locusts-coming-soon dept.

jpbostic writes "According to this article on MSNBC, ag folks in Hawaii were considering using powdered caffeine to help rid themselves of an infestation of frogs from Puerto Rico. The EPA's application regulations apparently proved too burdensome and the stuff sits in a warehouse. If the EPA is really concerned with the danger, they should investigate the coffee in some restaurants *quoth the caffeine addict*. :-)"

4 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Frogs on caffeine by dagoalieman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    No, you're not the only one, but IIRC it won't happen.

    I **vaguely** recall hearing that the caffiene has an adverse effect on their nervous system, in essense blocking the signals from the brain and to the brain. As in once they get it in them (dunno if it's absorption or consumption) they just don't move.. and shut down.

    Someone please correct me. That's so vague on details that I'm SURE I've at least got part, if not all of it, wrong. Hopefully the real solution is better than freezing to death, though...

    .

    --
    We don't need no Net Explorer We don't need no Thought control
  2. I thought amphibians were disappearing? by geoffsmith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Amphibians, particularly frogs, are supposed to be an indicator species for pollution. From all accounts I've read they are dying off in great numbers around the world. Maybe because the live near the surface of the water, they are more sensitive to things like acid rain?

    So why all the frogs? Hawaii... also Australia has also had a heck of a time with frogs, and in BC we've had a problem with huge frogs (the tadpoles are the size of your fist, and mature frogs so big they have been eating the ducks!) Just seems like contradictory evidence to me, maybe some species are heartier than others?

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  3. Coqui, the only frogs with no tadpoles by XBL · · Score: 3, Interesting

    These frogs are being studied for their evolutionary traits. Right from the egss hatch the frogs, as there is no intermediate state of a tadpole.

    Maybe the lack of an intermediate stage has made this species even more hardy, and therefore more prevalent in Hawaii.

    No matter what, the Coqui are there to stay in Hawaii. They will just have to get used to it.

  4. Spiders and Caffeine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is a spider's web. This is a spider's web on caffeine.

    (pic)

    (Trust me, the link is relevant.)

    Any questions?

    Caffeine is a drug that seems to have a stronger impact on small animals.