Ground toad in the garden how to fight. What are the holes under the bushes? In the photo, the Mongolian ground toad

Few people love amphibians: it’s good if a frog or a toad is simply bypassed, but often they try to harm the animal! Unmotivated aggression on the part of a person can only be explained by his narrow-mindedness - it is strange to want to offend such an animal as ground toad if you know a little about it.

An amphibian with a bad reputation

Dislike for toads goes through generations. Even in the Middle Ages, these animals were treated with special contempt and fear. In all civilized countries, it was believed that touching a toad is certain death. Moreover, the poison secreted by the toad through the skin allegedly acted as the cause of death.

Also, her deceit and danger to our ancestors was that a person could become a kind of incubator for them. They explained it this way: with bad or untreated water, you can drink toad eggs, and already in the stomach they will hatch safely and begin active life. For a modern person, this sounds wild, but before this condition was very actively treated.

Science has proven that a toad poses no danger to humans. Yes, in the event of an extreme situation for itself, the ground toad can release a special protective secret from the skin, but it rather plays a deterrent role and will not cause any harm.

Toad or frog: how to distinguish?

For many people, it is a fundamental question: who exactly did they meet, is it a frog or a toad? And although neither one nor the other carries a danger, it is not difficult to distinguish between them.

• The toad is more different large size: An adult can reach 15 centimeters in length.
• The body of the toad is loose, the contours are indistinctly outlined. The head is rather low pressed to the ground.
• The skin can have a shade from earthy gray to dark green. It has a large number of warts, tubercles and glands.
• A toad, unlike a frog, cannot jump. She confidently goes to the goal.

Most often, people meet amphibians on vacation near water bodies or in yards where there is a constant source of moisture. So, the earthen toad usually feels great in the garden - it is there that summer residents often meet her and are unreasonably frightened.

Life and habits

Like other amphibians, toads hibernate during the season when temperatures drop. So that no one disturbs the process of waiting for heat, they burrow into the soil to a depth of 10 centimeters, hide under the rhizomes of trees and stumps, and can even use abandoned rodent burrows.

IN warm time Toads are active at night. At this time, they go out in search of food: you can often meet a toad on a summer evening in places lit by lanterns.

Quite interesting is the answer to the question of how earth toads breed. First of all, these animals cannot do this without water: it is in the reservoir that they spawn.

Toad caviar has a special appearance - it resembles a long thin cord. Such cords lie on the bottom of the reservoir or can be braided around algae. Sometimes the length of such cords reaches 5-8 meters!

The tadpoles that emerge from the eggs do not surface for the first time. They live at the bottom, eating small algae and what is left of dying animals and plants. Tadpoles develop quite quickly, and after 50-60 days a full-fledged green or ground toad may appear on land.

Fear or help for the gardener?

What to do if you suddenly met an earthen toad in the garden or in the garden? Is it possible to touch it, will it spoil the crop? Or maybe he will bring friends and there will be nowhere to hide from the toads?

In order to answer the question of what toads do in a garden or vegetable garden, you need to find out what earthen toads eat.

Insects are their main food. They do not disdain caterpillars, various centipedes, as well as snails. A toad cannot be scared by bright colors or unusual view insect. Seeing the object for breakfast, the toad waddles towards its goal.

What is the benefit for the gardener? The most direct! Ground toad is a great organic way to control pests and crop eaters. She is such a nurse of crops, who goes out in the evenings to bypass the entrusted territory.

Therefore, having met this amphibian on your way or in the garden, you do not need to become like medieval Europeans and run for an “anti-toad” antidote or pesticide. Do not hit the animal and do not stomp on it: give way, because it goes about its important business, performing its natural function. A by-effect from it - the benefit to man.

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ground toad

People's rumors are unfair to them. From time immemorial, man has been stubbornly spreading rumors that a toad is a despicable and even dangerous creature, that one touch to it is fraught with at least a wart and, at a maximum, death. Meanwhile, it is difficult to find an amphibian on Earth that would bring such obvious benefits to humans as the ground toad.

Description of the ground toad

Due to the resemblance to a frog, the toad is constantly confused with it. Moreover, in the languages ​​of some peoples, representatives of these two different families are designated by one word, without making dictionary differences.

It's a shame, however! After all, the toad, which is also a real toad, belongs to the class of amphibians, the order of anurans, the family of toads and has more than 500 varieties. All of them are divided into 40 genera, a third of which can be found in the European territory.

Appearance

The toad is arranged as it should be for an anurous amphibian - a loose body, without clear contours, flattened head, bulging eyes, webbing between the toes, earthy skin, uneven, covered in tubercles and warts. Not a very pretty creature!

Perhaps because of this, a person has been disliked by the baby since ancient times? However, not all toads are babies. As an adult, they can reach up to 53 cm in length and weigh up to 1 kilogram. Toads have fairly short limbs for such a massive body. For this reason, toads cannot jump like frogs and are poor swimmers.

The distinctive features of ground toads include:

• absence of teeth in the upper jaw;
• the presence of tubercles on the paws of males - "marriage corns", with the help of which they are held on the body of the female during mating;
• large parotid glands called parotid glands.

Important! These glands are needed by the toad in order to produce a secret that moisturizes the skin. In some species of ground toads, this secret contains poisonous substances, as a defensive weapon. For a person, this secret does not pose a threat to life. It can only cause stinging. The only exception is one fatal poisonous toad on Earth, yes.

Of the 40 genera of ground toads, on the territory of Russia and former countries CIS can be found 6 varieties. All of them are from the genus bufo.

• Gray ground toad, she is also an ordinary toad. A large species in the family (7x12 cm) and one of the most common. Despite the name, it can be not only gray, but also olive, brown. The back is darker than the abdomen. In length, this toad is one and a half times less than in width. In Russia, the gray ground toad can be found on Far East and in Central Asia. She loves not very damp places, preferring the forest-steppe area.
• The Far Eastern toad, on the contrary, prefers wet places - water meadows, river floodplains. characteristic feature of this species is the color - bright black-brown spots on a gray back. Also, in Far Eastern toads, the female is always larger than the male. These toads can be found in the Far East, Sakhalin, Transbaikalia, Korea and China.
• The green ground toad got its name from the color of the back - dark green spots on an olive background. Such natural camouflage serves her well, making her practically invisible where she prefers to live - in meadows and river floodplains. The secret of the green toad is toxic to natural enemies, is not dangerous for humans. It is found in the Volga region, Asia, Europe and North Africa.
• The Caucasian toad competes in size with the common toad. It is 12.5 cm long. Adults are usually brown or dark gray, but the "young" is orange in color, which subsequently darkens. The Caucasian toad lives, as the name implies, in the Caucasus. Likes forests and mountains. Sometimes they can be found in caves, damp and damp.
• The reed toad, it is also smelly. Looks like a green toad. The same large - up to 8 cm long, also loves reeds and wet, swampy places. Distinctive feature of this species is the developed throat resonator in the male, which he puts into motion during the mating season. You can hear and see these toads in Belarus, in the west of Ukraine and in the Kaliningrad region.
• The Mongolian toad has a large body, up to 9 cm long, dotted with warts with thorns. Color can vary from gray to beige and brown. Against this background, spots of different geometric shapes. In addition to Mongolia, these toads have been seen in Siberia, the Far East, Western Ukraine and the Baltic states.

This is interesting! The largest toad in the world is the Bloomberg toad. The giantess has a body length of 25 cm and is completely harmless. Its solitary individuals can still be found in the tropics of Colombia and Ecuador, but only solitary, since this species is on the verge of extinction.

The smallest toad in the world is the Kihansi spatter toad, the size of a 5-ruble coin: 1.9 cm (for a male) and 2.9 cm (for a female) in length. As well as the largest toad, it is on the verge of extinction. Previously, it could be found in Tanzania, in a very limited area near the waterfall, in the area of ​​​​the Kihansi River.

Lifestyle

Ground toads lead a leisurely lifestyle during the day and are "active" at night. At dusk, they go hunting. They come out, clumsy and clumsy, they do not jump like frogs, but “walk at a pace”. On a jump, single, they can be provoked by danger. But even in this case, they prefer to arch their backs with a hump, depicting an extreme degree of defense from the enemy. Frogs don't do that.

Despite their clumsiness and slowness, ground toads are good hunters. Help their voracity and natural feature throw out the tongue at lightning speed, grabbing an insect on the fly. Frogs don't do that. With the onset of cold weather, toads fall into suspended animation, having previously found a secluded place for themselves - under the roots of trees, in abandoned burrows of small rodents, under fallen leaves. Toads live alone. They gather in groups only to leave offspring, and then “scatter” again, returning to their favorite bump.

How long does a ground toad live

The average life span of earth toads is 25-35 years. There are cases when some of their representatives lived to be 40 years old.

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Range, habitats

For habitat, earth toads choose wet places, but not necessarily near water bodies. They only need water to spawn.

Important! Due to the diversity of species, the range of presence of ground toads is practically ubiquitous. These amphibians are found on all continents. The only exception, for obvious reasons, is Antarctica.

The rest of the time, toads prefer damp cellars, freshly dug, still wet ground, crevices in the mountains, low thickets of grass in floodplains, rainforests. But! There are species that live both in the steppes and in arid deserts.

Although these animals are almost harmless, and also clear the area of ​​many insects, some owners seek to get rid of the frogs. They attribute this to fear or dislike of frogs. For some, they trample the shoots in the beds. Some varieties are poisonous and pose a serious threat to pets and can harm children. There are many ways to get rid of toads in your home.

Some frogs trample on shoots

Preparatory stage

First of all, you need to accurately define the type. First, it is necessary for more effective fight. Secondly, this way you can be sure of the legality of your actions. In some countries rare species protected by law or there are other legal nuances.

However, there are distinctly aggressive species who are allowed to be killed:

• Bullfrogs. They prey on local relatives and infect them with chytridiomycosis, a disease that has caused more than a hundred species to become extinct.
• Cane toads. Although they are not related to frogs, all the same methods of struggle apply to them. Most of them are in Australia.
• Cuban tree frogs outside of Cuba cause a lot of trouble. In the US (Florida) they were involved in a power outage.
• Tree singing frog.

The legality of killing a frog depends primarily on its harmfulness and prevalence. In Russia, you can not destroy any animals listed in the Red Book, among which there are some frogs and toads. There are varieties in the US that are so harmful that they are not allowed to be released when caught. First of all, this concerns invasive species that threaten biological diversity.

There are a number of aggressive

If in doubt about the belonging of amphibians, it is better not to touch them. Or use methods aimed at expelling animals, but not killing them. It will not be superfluous to contact nature conservation specialists, the local authorized state body.

If the frogs are not alien guests, but the indigenous inhabitants of the site, then it is better not to take drastic measures. This is important for the conservation of biological diversity and nature in general, because any indigenous species is an important component of the ecosystem. They occupy a place in the food chain, destroying insects, and also moisten the ground.

Even if it poisonous species better to find a compromise. You can remove all the foliage from the yard, then the frogs will simply have nowhere to live, and they will move to another territory, or simply cover the well, close all doors and windows - then the animals will definitely not disturb the peace of the home.

In order not to touch the frog, it is enough to remove all the foliage

Loyal Methods

To get rid of frogs in the house, it is not necessary to resort to exterminating them. There are loyal methods that will force amphibians to leave or prevent them from returning to the site. They are relevant for reasons of humane treatment of animals and the preservation of the natural ecological balance.

Work on the plot

You can get rid of frogs in the cellar by working on the site. Since amphibians are attracted to moisture, drain all standing water. This applies to birdbaths, artificial ponds, wetlands and more. Amphibians use these places for lodging and laying eggs. Removing the water will also drive away some insects, including mosquitoes. Since the frogs prey on them, they will lose interest in the place due to the lack of food. If you want to save some sources of water, then you should put filters or a fountain. The circulation and purification of water will make it impossible for the reproduction of not only insects, but also the frogs themselves.

Vegetation can be pruned. It is necessary to remove bushy plants and tall grass, in which frogs constantly hide. They will avoid open areas. If the bush grows away from moisture, then it can be saved. The same goes for garbage. For example, tires, empty pots, mountains of wood shavings are excellent hiding places for these animals. If you remove the garbage, then the frogs will have nowhere to hide.

Outdoor lighting should be turned off if possible. It attracts insects that the frogs feed on. On the porch and in the garden, the lights can be turned off at night, and in the house, curtains or curtains can be hung on the windows.

It is better not to keep animal food outside so that amphibians do not try to steal it. Pets should also be fed at home. If this is not possible, then it is better to take the bowl home after feeding.

Reducing vegetation is one of the solutions to the problem

You can breed frogs by killing insects. This can be done using special traps or insecticides. It is better to use organic poisons, because chemical ones often destroy all animals in a row, including amphibians.

Another option is physical fencing. The entire property or pond can be limited with a net or plastic barrier. It is better not to use wire, because the amphibian will easily overcome this obstacle. But the fence should fit snugly to the ground and be high enough so that it cannot be jumped over. Security measures imply that the support posts should enter the ground by about a third of a meter. The base is better to sprinkle with earth.

Scaring elements

You can use the help of predators. At the same time, you need to remember about the toxicity of some species. The carnivore used must be toxin resistant. Although it is easiest to release a cat, you can pick up other predators that feed on these amphibians, such as a snake, kites or hawks.

Some types of predators are happy to help get rid of frogs.

Suitable for scaring animals natural remedies. However, you need to understand that some of them can not only scare, but also kill amphibians. You can sprinkle salt near ponds or in the cellar. It is not fatal, but it burns the paws, so the frogs will leave, but the salt will also harm the plants. To avoid this, you can use coffee grounds. It will have a similar effect, but will not kill the plants.

Aggressive ways

More radical means are also used to get rid of frogs. It is better to do this only as a last resort, which is due to many reasons. First of all, with the senselessness and cruelty of such actions.

None special means no need to kill amphibians. It is enough to dilute 600 grams citric acid in four liters of water, and then spray the solution on the skin of the frogs. They will suffer, but they will die quickly. The same can be done with caffeine.

You can fix the problem at initial stage when they are still tadpoles

Some herbicides can deprive males of the ability to fertilize. It is enough to spray the substance on the site to reduce the population of amphibians. Snake repellent is also suitable - it acts on frogs no less effectively.

Amphibians can simply be caught with a net or net. After catching, there are two options for action:

1. Move collected animals. They can be taken to a nearby body of water and released. However, you should choose a place in which this species can live naturally.
2. Kill frogs. Most humane method- freezing to death. First, the animals must be put in the refrigerator for the night (due to the cold they will fall into a state of a kind of coma), and then left for three days in the freezer. So low temperature fatal to them.

Another way to fight is to eliminate amphibians in the state of tadpoles. They just need to be caught with a net from the pond, and then eliminated. You can do this in three ways:

• to freeze;
• lay out on dry asphalt, lit by the sun;
• bury alive.

The first one is more humane. A good alternative is to install traps like ordinary mousetraps, it is better to place them near the entrances to the house, garage or cellar. If no remedies for frogs in the house help, but you still need to eliminate amphibians, it is better to resort to the help of a professional exterminator.

In this video you will learn how to catch frogs:

ground toad refers to tailless amphibians. This is a squad. The class is simply called amphibians. The detachment has a family of toads. It includes over 40 genera. They have 579 species. They are called earthen, because with the onset of cold weather and during the day during the hot period, they hide in minks, burrow between roots and stones.

Description and features of the ground toad

Ground toad in the photo and in reality is larger than a frog, has drier, rougher skin. It is covered with a semblance of warts, outgrowths. Frogs do not have this, as well as the ability to catch insects at lightning speed.

The toad picks them up with its tongue. On the other hand, frogs have elongated hind legs. This allows the animals to jump. Toads lack this ability. Additional differences from frogs are:

• loose body without clear contours
• head down to the ground
• an abundance of glands on the back, which often produce poison
• dark skin with an earthy tone
• missing teeth in the upper jaw

Ground toads have developed sexual dimorphism. Males are much smaller than females and have calloused first toes on their front paws. It helps determine the sex of the ground toad.

Calluses on the paws of male ground toads are overgrown skin glands. They help to stay on the partner's back during mating. Hence the embracing and grasping reflexes developed in males.

The ear glands are also enlarged in earthen toads. This applies to both genders. The ear glands are called parotids.

The sizes of toads reach 30 centimeters in length. In this case, the weight of an individual can be 2.3 kilograms. There are also miniature representatives of the detachment about 3 centimeters long.

Lifestyle and habitat

Short-legged and heavy-bodied toads slowly roll over. In moments of danger, amphibians arch their backs. This visually makes the toads bigger, scaring off offenders. The frogs just jump away from the latter.

Toads are sometimes capable of a single jump, but they make it if the “trick” with arching the back has not worked.

Having a rougher, keratinized skin than that of frogs, toads can stay away from water bodies for a long time. There is no need for constant moistening of the covers. More precisely, parotids take over this function. They produce a moisturizing secret.

The life of the ground toad is divided into phases of rest and activity, not only day and night. The last one is wake time. Life is also divided into a period of heat and cold. By winter, toads burrow into the ground to a depth of about 10 centimeters. There, animals fall into anabiosis, slowing down vital processes.

Toads can burrow in deserts, meadows, forests. The main condition is the presence of a nearby reservoir. It's not about moistening the integuments of toads. They need water to reproduce. Caviar is laid in swamps and lakes.

During the mating season earth toad sound it is similar to quacking. Frightened amphibians can squeak piercingly. The croaking of frogs, typical of frogs, is rare and in a lower, throaty tone. The croaking of frogs, typical of frogs, is rare and in a lower, throaty tone.

Types of ground toads

Of the almost 600 species of ground toads, 6 live in Russia. The list opens with an ordinary one. It is also called gray. The abdomen of an amphibian is highlighted. The back of the toad is dark grey.

The length of an ordinary toad does not exceed 7 centimeters. Body width reaches 12. You can see the animal in Central Asia and the Far East.

In addition to the common ground toad in the list Russian species:

1. Far East. She has orange eyes, just like the grey. However, the color of the Far Eastern toad is variegated. On a whitish background there are spots of brick tone and black marks. Far Eastern toads inhabit water meadows and moist, shady forests.

There are many of them on Sakhalin, along the eastern coast of Russia. Outside its borders, the species is distributed in China, Korea.

2. Green. She is also spotted, but the markings are green and smaller than those of the Far East. The drawing looks delicate. The background is light grey. Orange dots are also scattered along the back. The coloring is like a camouflage print.

The green toad is found in middle lane Russia in water meadows and swampy areas.

3. Mongolian. This toad is grey-olive. Greenish spots. They are multi-sized. The abdomen is light. Male warts are spiny. Skin outgrowths of females are smooth. Representatives of the species live in the western part of the country.

4. Caucasian. It is brown and larger than other Russian ground toads, reaching a length of 13 centimeters. From the name, the habitat of amphibians is clear. In the mountains of the Caucasus, toads gravitate towards damp caves.

5. Reed. Similar to green, but smaller. The color of the toad's spots is brighter. Instead of orange dots on the back - brown. Rock toads are on the verge of extinction. With luck, representatives of the species can be found in the Kaliningrad region.

Some frogs are added to the true ground toads. In about half of the languages, no distinction is made between concepts. So, the African black rain frog is both black ground toad. The corners of her mouth are turned down. Because of this, the animal seems sad. The body of an amphibian is always swollen.

True toads outside of Russia include, for example, American cone-headed and cricket. The last yellow-green. This is the main tone. The pattern is brown-black. The belly of the cricket toad is cream and the neck is white in females and black in males.

The cone-headed toad is 3 times larger than the cricket toad, reaching a length of 11 centimeters. The name of the species is due to the prominent furrows near the eyes. Outgrowths are located longitudinally. Representatives of the species are colored differently, but the warts on the body are always lighter or darker than the main tone.

Outside of Russia, the largest toad in the world, the blomberg, also lives. Representatives of the species are found in Colombia, on the territory of Ecuador. There toads reach 30 centimeters in length. The underside of the body of the animal is pinkish-white, and the top is painted in grassy green.

Blomberg's antipode is the kihansi archer. The body length of this toad does not exceed 2 centimeters. This is the male limit. Saki is an inch bigger. However, there are few toads themselves. Animals live within Tanzania. There is a Kihansi waterfall. Amphibians are named after him. They historically live on 2 hectares at the foot of the waterfall.

At the end of the chapter, let's mention the toad aha. She is the most poisonous member of the family. In terms of size, large agi are only 2-4 centimeters inferior to blombergs. Toad venom is produced by glands throughout the body. The largest are on the head.

Poison shoots towards the offender. The toxin seeps through the skin. Therefore, it is dangerous to hold an agu in your hands. Predators that bite an amphibian die within a few minutes. The poison blocks the heart.

Outwardly, yeah, it is distinguished by the presence of prickly warts on the back, limbs. The animal also has more keratinized skin than other toads. The upper eyelid of the aga is bordered by a special semicircular ledge. The color of the toad is gray-brown with dark spots on top. The markings are larger on the back and smaller on the underside of the body.

Animal nutrition

What does the ground toad eat partly depends on where it lives. Summarizes the diet 100 percent protein base. Toads do not eat plant foods. Predation is limited to eating and insects.

The exception is the aga diet. Due to the poison, the amphibian also manages to infect small birds, rodents, and reptiles.

In the vastness of Russia, toads eat mainly fillies, ants, earwigs, slugs, caterpillars, click beetles,. Most on the list are pests. That's why ground toad in the garden or in farmland is useful.

However, "with open arms" amphibians are rarely met there. The thing is folk beliefs. Some believe that they adopt her warts at the moment of touching the animal. Others believe that frogs represent the forces of darkness. Still others associate the heroine of the article with death.

In fairness, we note that there are positive interpretations of the image of the earthen toad. In it, for example, is a symbol of wealth. The Celtic peoples call the toad the lord of the earth.

Reproduction and lifespan

The answer to the question how do earth toads reproduce in Russia, unambiguously, - by external fertilization. The egg is released outside the body. There the male fertilizes. Toad eggs are their eggs. Her females lay in a pond. The males fertilize the eggs there.

Toads choose puddles, ponds, ditches, and river backwaters as reservoirs for spawning. Outside of Russia there are species that lay their eggs in rapids. Tadpoles in this case are equipped with suckers. They are located on the abdomen. With the help of suckers, tadpoles are fixed on algae, bottom stones, snags.

Abroad, there are also ground toads that lay their eggs outside water bodies. Representatives Philippine species The eggs are located in the axils of tree leaves. Toads choose greenery at a height of several meters.

Exceptions among toads are also those using the cycle of internal fertilization. These are viviparous species. Their eggs develop in dilated oviducts. Interestingly, all viviparous toads are miniature, not exceeding 3 centimeters in length.

How long do ground toads live also depends on the type. The majority limit is 25 years, with a minimum of 5 years. However, representatives large species lived up to 36 years of age.

How to get rid of ground toad

Feeding on insects, toads do not disdain sharp-smelling ones and are not afraid of contrastingly colored ones. Birds of prey ignore them. Therefore, there are ground toad benefit. Harm or Amphibians do not cause damage to the garden. But for the sake of the benefits, many types of toads were settled around the planet.

So yeah, for example, got into and on Hawaiian Islands. At the last settlers, they were released into the fields with reeds. The toads quickly destroyed the pests, preserving the crop crop.

Despite the benefits of the heroine of the article, many people think how to get rid of ground toad. It's about beliefs, stereotypes and just disgust for amphibians. Among the methods of exterminating toads are:

• keeping poultry that will eat amphibians
• cleaning the area from fallen leaves, boards, bark and other places where toads can hide
• periodic mowing of grass needed by toads for shading and shelter

The only thing that, in fact, toads harm gardens is burrows. Making them for shelter, amphibians can touch the roots of plants. Some gardeners complain that their cucumbers and tomatoes literally fall through. However, for such a total, there should be a lot of toads. Often, only a few individuals live in one area.

In the Garden-Garden section, to the question What is the use or harm of frogs in the garden? given by the author Ledi .... the best answer is Natalia Usacheva as if she fell from Mars .. or from an oak tree .. Look - don’t listen to such people! And from frogs and toads in dachas and gardens ONLY BENEFITS. Take care of them and do not offend - and then you will harvest more .. than you would have harvested .. if you didn’t have them at all ..

Answer from LARISA ZHUKOVA[guru] And besides frogs, toads, I also have lizards running around. Answer from Leah[guru] I would not want a snake, but let the toads ... Answer from Nikolay Lakaevsky[guru] So it's time to equip a frog farm and feed them. Then the French, or to China. IN business! With a smile! Answer from Nadezhda Gorodishchanova[guru] So you have a good environment. May all who can reach you live. In bad conditions, no one will go to live. You feel good about them, which means you will benefit too. Answer from RU[guru]From small animals, frogs and toads are especially useful for the garden. The main food of frogs and toads are insects, most often pests. The moor frog prefers spiders and cycads most of all, the grass frog prefers slugs and grasshoppers, the gray toad prefers beetles and ants, the green toad prefers bugs. They also devour bears, weevils, wireworms, Colorado potato beetle larvae, caterpillars and other pests. Jumping frogs prey on flying insects, including mosquitoes and butterflies. Young frogs and toads feed on aphids, raspberry beetles, mosquitoes, and weevils.

On average, a frog eats 1-2 g of food per day, a toad - up to 8 g. The number of harmful insect species destroyed by frogs and toads is 2-3 times higher than that of insectivorous birds, since they feed on insects with an unpleasant odor and a protective coloration. They hunt at night when the birds are sleeping and destroy nocturnal pests.

Answer from Galina[guru] Frogs are beneficial, they eat slugs and mosquitoes, they like to eat strawberries. In general, all living creatures are useful. Answer from Yatyan B[guru] And I love frogs on the site. Even if there is no benefit! Let them live, jump, croak... it’s happier with them ... Answer from Dima Guchok[newbie] CRACKING at night - they don’t let them sleep - especially before the rain Answer from Natalia Usacheva [guru] An utter abomination! The benefits are clearly less than the nasty things! Mosquitoes will not be caught, the hedgehog eats slugs well. Where frogs and a toad sit (near the shower and water tap), slugs are not visible there. But a little further away, in flowers, in sorrel, there are a lot of them.

So I doubt they would eat them.

Answer from Irina Shabalina[guru] Toads live in the gardens, don't offend them, they destroy a lot of pests, in fact, everything that moves, in the truest sense of the word --- their vision is so arranged that they see only moving objects, and they only eat insects, they don’t eat strawberries, slugs eat strawberries, and that’s what toads hunt while sitting in strawberries. Toads mostly get pests for dinner, because toads mainly hunt at night (and in cloudy days), and pests mostly operate at night. Answer from Vladimir Z[guru] Frogs eat slugs and mosquitoes. A lot of! But they can also eat strawberries. A little bit. Answer from Alexander Vasyukov [active] They have already said the benefit, but their harm is that they are nasty! Answer from Alexander Mukhin [guru] frogs eat mosquitoes

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Earth toad. Lifestyle and habitat of the ground toad

It is probably difficult to find a person who spoke fondly of the ground toad. On the contrary, they come up with various fables, for example, some people think that warts and even death can appear from the touch of amphibian representatives.

And few people know that they are orderlies of agricultural crops. Namely, they cope with insects that birds cannot catch. Since toads hunt at night, which is what most garden pests do.

Features and habitat

If we consider geographical areas habitats of ground toads, you can see them both in wetlands and in arid deserts, forests, meadows. In any case, there should be a body of water nearby. It is there that they spend the mating season and spawn. This is a feature of all amphibians.

The nature and lifestyle of the earthen toad

According to the description, the ground toad is estimated at 579 species. Only six varieties are known in Russia. The photo shows an ordinary gray toad. The most common species in the Far East, Central Asia.

Adults are 7 cm long, and the width exceeds almost one and a half times - 12 cm. The back is dark in color with warts, the abdomen is with lighter tones.

Gray ground toad

Far East. The habitat of representatives of the fauna are water meadows, shady forests. The color of the back is gray with bright spots of a black-brown hue, the surface is covered with warts.

The abdomen is light in color. Females differ from males in larger sizes. The eyes are red. There are spikes on the paws. Sakhalin, China, Korea are called habitat.

Far Eastern ground toad

Green. The color of the back is gray with openwork spots of a swamp shade. The animal seems to be in camouflage, well camouflaged from enemies. Therefore, it lives freely in meadows with little grass. The toad cannot jump like a frog, but prefers to move slowly.

Pictured is a green toad

Caucasian. It overtakes all its fellows in growth, which varies from 12 to 12.5 cm in length. Adults are greyish-brown.

Younger specimens are distinguished by an orange color. The homeland of animals is the Western Caucasus. They can be found in mountainous areas, sometimes in caves if there is high humidity.

Caucasian ground toad

Reed. It bears a strong resemblance to the green toad. It is included in the Red Book, as the species is on the verge of extinction. Homeland - Kaliningrad region, Baltic states, Belarus, Switzerland. He likes places near water bodies - shrubs, swampy lowlands.

Jungle toad

Mongolian toad. Lives in Western Ukraine, the Baltic states. The warts on the back of the females are of a smooth structure, which cannot be said about the males - they have them with spikes. The color is gray with olive spots. And all of them different shapes and magnitude. The abdomen is light with no signs of spots.

In the photo, the Mongolian ground toad

Sometimes animals can live in the cellar where vegetables are stored for the winter. This is quite natural. After all, if there is moisture, this is the native element of toads. Before removing the earthen toad from the cellar, some measures should be taken:

1. In the summer, open the cellar and pull out all the inventory to dry. While the racks are drying, insulate the basement. To do this, remove the top layer of the floor and fill it with sand. Tamp everything carefully.

This will serve as a cushion for waterproofing. Then, cover the ground part with a film and pour concrete. Wait for complete drying and proceed to the processing of walls and ceilings.

Carefully inspect everything for the presence of cracks, if there is also cement the surface. Treat the walls, ceiling with lime or any protective agent against fungus. Now you can bring in dry racks.

2. Use traps.

Ground toad food

The toad is mainly nocturnal. The exception is rainy weather and sunset. Then the predator goes hunting. All spineless insects, slugs, butterflies, spiders get into her diet. The signal for a raid on prey is the slightest movement of an insect.

Often, because of their sluggishness, animals fall into wells, cellars. Then their life ends in captivity. But they continue to exist and feed on the little that falls, for example, into a well.

The toad has always aroused dislike among people and its appearance in the garden is considered a misfortune. But, knowing what the ground toad eats, you can’t call it otherwise than a site cleaner. For a day, an earthen toad in the garden eats up to 8 g of insects.

If the birds do not hunt garden pests at night, the night orderlies will take care of this. So what is an earthen toad and what does it bring by settling in a garden, benefit or harm, in my opinion, the answer is clear - from toads only benefit crops.

For some reason, many of these orderlies do not like and are looking for ways to get rid of earthen toads:

1. Clean the area of wood waste to prevent animals from hiding.

2. If there are dogs, do not leave leftover food in the bowl.

3. Exclude access to water. This will not only scare away toads, but also insects that love moisture.

4. Sprinkle your paths with rock salt.

5. Effective way considered the use of pesticides.

Reproduction and lifespan of the ground toad

Before spawning, it should be recalled how ground toads breed offspring. The animal approaches the reservoir during the mating season. For a temperate climate, this is spring; in the tropics, this is the rainy season. Males are already waiting for them, making unusual sounds. Two individuals mate. As a result, the eggs are fertilized.

Ground toad caviar

Although the toad is an earthen, the process of obtaining offspring takes place necessarily in the water. Let's figure out how earthen toads breed in a pond. Animals spawn, which has interesting feature appearance- is a thin cord.

In some varieties, it can reach 8 meters. After the caviar enters the reservoir, it can be at the bottom of it or wrap around water reeds.

Tailed tadpoles emerge from the eggs and continue their existence there. After about two months, the juveniles are ready for terrestrial life and move to land. The next year, the earthen toad is ready for procreation.

givotniymir.ru

Frogs and toads are helpers in our gardens.

green toad

Hello, friends!

Today I want to tell you about frogs and toads - full-fledged inhabitants of our gardens and kitchen gardens, which help control the number of pests. If they create acceptable conditions, they will gladly settle on garden plots and will eat large numbers of slugs, caterpillars, insect larvae, earwigs, click beetles, ants, grasshoppers, mosquitoes and other pests that live within their reach. If you do not use pesticides and do not leave inorganic fertilizers on the ground in an undissolved form, do not mow the grass too often at least in some parts of the garden, frogs and toads will be comfortable and they will come to live on your plots of land. And if there is at least small body of water with places convenient for breeding frogs and toads, their help will be provided with early spring.

Not everyone loves these most useful and beautiful (do not be surprised, in nature, all creations are perfect) amphibians (amphibians), some are even afraid of them, believing that warts appear from frogs and toads. I declare with full responsibility that this is not true - there is no confirmation of these rumors. Yes, I myself, in childhood and at a more mature age, took frogs and toads in my hands, but I did not have warts. And children begin to be afraid of amphibians, because they are scared by adults who were scared by their parents in childhood.

Common toad

Benefits of frogs. benefits of toads

The beneficial activity of amphibians has been noted in various literature. Eating almost exclusively on animal food, they exterminate insects that harm gardens, vegetable gardens, meadows, fields and forests. The great benefit of amphibians in regulating the number of harmful insects in gardens and orchards has long been noticed. In England, Holland, and Hungary, gardeners from other countries imported toads on purpose and released them into greenhouses and gardens. In the mid-1930s, about 150 individuals of the aga toad were brought to the Hawaiian Islands from the Antilles. There they were bred and released over a million toads on sugarcane plantations. The results were very pleasing. In the USSR, young naturalists released frogs on school plots. And we don’t need to do anything - do not interfere with the frogs and toads, and they will come themselves. Already in Russia, there are enough reservoirs and wild places for their reproduction and wintering.

Sharp-faced frog. grass frog. Gray toad. green toad

In Russia, gray (common) and green toads, grass and moored (brown) frogs most often live in gardens and vegetable gardens, to the south of Moscow there are spadefoot, so named because of the smell, reminiscent of garlic. All of them are sensitive to air humidity in the soil layer. At a humidity above 90%, the common frog lives, it does not tolerate dry air, it can live both on Far North(in water bodies) and in the forest-steppe zone near rivers, but does not spread far beyond the Urals. The moor frog is much less sensitive to dry air. The most hardy toads to dryness and air temperature, especially the green one, which occupies the driest habitats inaccessible to other amphibians, and dies only when 50% of water is lost from body weight.

frog

Frog breeding. toad breeding

The reproduction of frogs and toads is characterized by internal fertilization (not in all amphibians). Sexually mature individuals gather in reservoirs in spring, mate, after which the females spawn. Masonry occurs near the shore in shallow, unshaded, well-heated places. From eggs after a while, depending on the type of individuals and ambient temperature, tadpoles hatch, grow, eat mainly algae that are inaccessible to other vertebrates. From the end of June, and in some places by autumn, the tadpoles turn into frogs, leave the reservoirs and disperse throughout the district, walking up to 60 meters per day. It is very interesting that the shells of moor frog eggs contain the substance ranidin, which kills the simplest microorganisms. IN traditional medicine Dried frog roe is used to treat facial erysipelas.

How frogs hibernate. How do toads hibernate

hibernate different types differently. Gray and green toads burrow into loose earth to a depth of 10-12 cm, winter in rodent burrows, pits, under stones, in wall crevices. Sharp-faced frogs overwinter on land: in pits covered with leaves, in heaps of foliage and needles, under heaps of branches, in rodent burrows. Spadeworts burrow into the soil or use rodent burrows, mole passages, or sand martin nests. Common frogs prefer to winter in peat pits, springs, at the bottom of reservoirs, under high banks, in thickets of vegetation, in flowing reservoirs under stones. Unfortunately, in harsh snowless winters, amphibians often die. Even wintering in the water grass frogs perish from a lack of atmospheric gases or freezing of the reservoir to the bottom.

green toad

Amphibian breath

Amphibians breathe through the lungs and skin. The grass frog receives 33% of oxygen through the skin. Exchange of gases through the skin environment in amphibians it goes only through the water film, so the skin is constantly moistened with mucus, which is produced by numerous glands. In the sun, the film on the skin dries up and prevents the loss of moisture. Toads have poisonous glands for protection, which secrete substances with a pungent odor, a very bitter taste, burning and emetic action. After all, they cannot move quickly and run away from the hunter. The poison of the gray and green toads is not dangerous to humans, especially since it is released only with mechanical pressure.

These types of frogs and toads hunt mainly at night, leaving their shelters in the evening. During the day, grass frogs hide in wet places, clinging to the ground, and the spadefoot burrow into the soil. Toads, going out to feed in the evening, often bathe in water or dew. Amphibians, more than birds, eat insects with an unpleasant smell and taste and insects with a protective color. If cultivated plantings in gardens and fields are treated with pesticides, frogs and toads, birds and beneficial insects die, and pests adapt, become immune to similar poisons and multiply in geometric progression, forcing the use of more and more strong poisons.

In places where a person treats nature carefully, wisely, biocenoses of plants and animals, including frogs and toads, are formed, which regulate the number of various pests in the garden. Yes, there are wormy apples, but the products are environmentally friendly, because the worm will not eat a harmful plant. In many places of vast Russia it is customary to burn autumn leaves, grass, branches. But after all, a lot of beneficial insects and frogs hibernate in them and under them. And after spending the winter, not even in the compost heap, leaves and grass can serve as an excellent mulch and part of the soil mixtures. Tree branches can be buried in new beds, and even better, they can be processed into wood chips (read "Garden Branch Shredder") and sprinkle paths on the site, the ground under trees and shrubs, where they will rot and enrich the soil.

Let's take care of the space in which we live together, do not litter and poison! Then we will be healthier too.

svoimirukamivdome.ru

The benefits of toads and frogs

Often we can hear unflattering characteristics about this couple. However, the benefits of toads and frogs are also obvious. And if they live on your estate, know that there is their merit in reducing the number of slugs and mosquitoes.

The “fault” of frogs and toads is that they are a favorite delicacy for almost all the inhabitants of forests, fields and rivers. Snakes, hedgehogs, foxes, owls, hawks, crows, magpies are not averse to tasting the tender frog meat. To survive on earth, goggle-eyed people need to somehow protect themselves, How to do this if there are no teeth, no shell, no wool, no claws, no strength? The poison remains.

So, for example, in rodents, injection of the skin secretions of a frog causes immediate paralysis of the hind legs. But, in addition, these secretions, which cover the body of the frog in the form of mucus, help it slip out from the enemy, protect it from bacteria and fungal spores.

In toads, the venom glands are even more developed. They are located near the ears and along the body. When a fox seizes a toad, substances with a pungent odor and a bitter taste are reflexively released from all glands, causing burning and vomiting. The attacking predator abandons the prey, and if he does not do this and eats the toad, poisonous substances can poison him.

Let us remind you once again: for a person, these secretions are not dangerous.

Toads and frogs are faithful helpers in the garden.

Do not offend toads and frogs: they are useful!

The skin glands of frogs and toads secrete poisonous substances that are dangerous not for humans, but for four-legged and winged enemies.

The use of toads and frogs is that they catch caterpillars, mosquitoes, flies.

common frog

If you look closely at the structure of the frog's body, you can see that it is always raised in front and, as it were, directed upward at an angle. A long tongue is thrown out for a considerable distance, helping to catch flies, mosquitoes and other insects flying by. Long hind legs allow for long jumps.

The toad has other possibilities. Attention is drawn to some kind of "squat" appearance and short hind limbs, the absence of a far-protruding tongue.

The toad collects caterpillars, its food is on the surface of the soil.

Therefore, both toads and frogs are equally useful, and we should protect this ecological couple in every possible way. Most often, we can meet a gray or common toad, which is easily distinguished by the brown color of the tuberculate back and off-white or yellowish abdomen. It prefers dry places, but moves to water bodies for the spawning period.

It leads a nocturnal or twilight lifestyle, during the day it sits under boards and stones, often in undergrounds and sheds. It feeds on caterpillars and beetles. Inactive and easily given in the hands. In spring it appears at 5-6 °C. Lays 1200-6840 eggs in a pond. Tadpoles develop in water for two months. In autumn, small toads already reach 1.5 cm.

Common frogs are the ecological partner of the common toads on the site. This species is characterized by a brown or grayish coloration of the back, a dark tapering spot behind the eye, and a yellowish or white belly. Long hind legs allow good jumping, escaping from numerous enemies.

In nature, they live in forests and forest-steppes. They spend the whole summer on land, lead a twilight and nocturnal lifestyle, but often hunt during the day, catching mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects, beetles, grasshoppers, and mollusks. According to ecologists, every summer the frog eats about 1,300 mosquitoes and flies.

The problem of how to get rid of frogs in the cellar is faced by almost all summer residents and owners of private houses. These animals are beneficial by destroying mosquitoes and flies. But a large accumulation of reptiles in the underground can harm the crop. Toads carry pathogenic microorganisms through the products, pollute them with the products of their vital activity. If the basement is located under the house or next to it, then croaking will cause discomfort to its inhabitants. Consider the prerequisites for the appearance and ways to get rid of unwanted guests.

The basement is a dark, damp and cool room. In most cases, it contains boxes, shelves and pallets, which are excellent hiding places for amphibians. Animals enter the cellar through doors during ventilation, through cracks and through ventilation ducts. When there are puddles under the flooring, frogs lay eggs in it, from which tadpoles emerge. If no effective measures are taken, then a short time the population will reach hundreds of individuals.

Consider possible reasons the appearance of toads and how to eliminate them:

1. High humidity in storage. It is necessary to repair the drainage system, bail out the water and ventilate the room well. Uninvited guests themselves will leave him through open doors, because they will not be able to do without moisture for a long time.
2. The presence in the subfield of many things that are a shelter for adults. These are boxes, rags, old hay and uncollected garbage. After taking out all the excess, the stay of amphibians in the basement will become uncomfortable.
3. Accumulation of insects. They flock to the smell of food, making a loud noise that attracts predators. Flies and mosquitoes can be quickly driven out using special spirals and plates. Deprived of food, the toads will leave the cellar. Installing mosquito nets on doors and ventilation will prevent this problem in the future.
4. Neighborhood with a reservoir. Amphibians constantly migrate in search of food and breeding partners. They may end up in the subfield by accident. At the call of one individual, others come, which leads to their accumulation. If you enclose the room with a low fence made of metal mesh, you can forget about their existence for a long time.

Having dealt with the prerequisites of the problem, we will consider options for solving it.

Help of natural enemies

The first and one of the simplest solutions to the question of how to get frogs out of the cellar is to involve their natural enemies in the fight.

These are:

1. Snake. Amphibians experience panic fear in front of them, quickly moving away to a safe distance. It is enough to catch and put one representative of this species in the underground so that all reptiles leave the premises. There is one difficulty - to find and catch the snake. To do this, you can use a fish tank.
2. Cats. They have a natural instinct to kill. A pet can kill the entire colony that has settled in the basement in a few hours. The method is not humane, but effective. Amphibian exterminators are always nearby, they do not need to be caught, wasting time and risking health.
3. Hedgehogs. They are slower than other animals, but the fear factor is sufficient. Animal banishes uninvited guests just by your presence. Difficulties may also arise with the search and capture of hedgehogs, since this animal is nocturnal and leads a secretive lifestyle.

If attracting predators is not possible or desirable, other pest control methods are chosen.

The use of nets and traps

A humane way to get rid of toads is to catch them with a butterfly net. You can use it in a spacious bright room with a minimum amount of furniture. Pre-floors and shelves are freed from all things. Then the floors are covered with a film or thick cloth. Reptiles are captured, placed in a bucket of water, and released into the nearest body of water. This option is difficult, time-consuming, but most of all acceptable by nature lovers.

A small population can be bred using closed-type mousetraps, where the captured individual remains alive. Insects or small fragments of food are used as bait. Mousetraps need to be periodically checked, released and placed again. Open type devices kill amphibians. The owners of the basement will have to solve an unpleasant issue with the disposal of animal corpses.

Traps can be made independently from cardboard boxes. They are equipped with valves or labyrinths. Cleaning the box from the catch is simple - just turn the container over and remove the lid from it.

After capturing and removing adults, the subfloor should be checked for tadpoles. Cans, pots, bottles and other containers are checked. The liquid from them merges into puddles, swamps or streams.

Chemical Methods

Insecticides are divided into deterrent, lethal and paralyzing the reproductive system. IN last case amphibians remain alive, but lose their ability to reproduce. The choice in each case is made individually, taking into account the scale and nature of the problem. Most household drugs are safe for humans. They are sold in the form of granules, powder, gel and aerosols. High efficiency was shown by means against snakes and used in agriculture herbicides.

1. Before processing the room, remove from it all products that are not packed tightly. Even in small quantities, the poison is dangerous to health.
2. When applying drugs, use rubber gloves, a respirator and tight-fitting goggles.
3. Poison agents must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. An insufficient dose may not bring the desired effect.
4. It is better to apply and pour preparations around the perimeter of the subfloor, next to the ventilation openings and the front door. Chests and baskets in which food will be stored should not be treated with preparations.
5. After the end of the procedure, it is necessary to carry out a wet cleaning of all surfaces, ventilate the room well.

If sanitization was carried out with lethal drugs, it is necessary to carefully examine all places in the basement, without missing a single dead animal. Otherwise, the smell of decay will make the room unsuitable for its intended use for a long time.

Folk ways

Folk methods do not harm reptiles, but create unbearable conditions for them to continue to stay in the cellar.

To the most effective means relate:

1. Coarse edible salt. This is a safe substance that must be poured over all horizontal surfaces. Wet areas can be covered with plastic wrap or oilcloth. Salt burns the mucous membranes of frogs. Not finding a comfortable place for themselves, they will be forced to leave the basement. The advantage of this method is that the salt does not need to be removed after reaching the goal. It is an antiseptic and serves as a preventative barrier against new guests.
2. Lemon acid. It works similarly to salt, but much stronger. Therefore, the acid is used in low concentrations so as not to kill the animals.
3. Coffee. It is used in the form of thick and solution. Falls asleep on floors and shelves, splashes on open ground and in puddles. Caffeine causes deterioration and increased heart rate in reptiles. Reflexively, they tend to get away from the source of danger.

Using folk remedies, they should not be allowed to come into contact with the skin of frogs, because this can cause paralysis and cardiac arrest in them. The doors to the cellar must be kept open so that the animals can get out.