Coqui frogs are small frogs commonly found in tropical areas, such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Though these frogs seem small, their loud mating calls at night are everyday annoyances reported. This invasive species may often be considered a nuisance and beneficial for the environment and pest control. Coqui frogs help eat insects, such as beetles, spiders, and roaches.
Coquis love tropical areas and mostly live in areas near coastlines. However, as coqui frogs continue to rise in population, more are moving inland and to higher elevations. Though this frog species prefers to live in forests, more are moving into human territories found near water bodies as its population increases. Thus, the coqui is considered an invasive species as it has become a nuisance near homes, parks, and other residential areas.
Though the coqui is often considered an invasive or nuisance species, this tiny frog offers many benefits to the world’s ecosystem. Coquis are herbivores eating various insects, including cockroaches, crickets, beetles, and spiders. Larger species of coqui prefer to eat small lizards and frogs. The coqui diet helps control the population for these other pests, keeping balance in some local ecosystems.
The excessive and swift population increase of coqui frogs has harmed some ecosystems. In some areas, frog populations multiplied, forcing other animals, such as bats and birds, to seek other food sources. Other animals compete for food because the coqui frogs eat the same types of insects many of these native animals rely on for survival.
The coqui frog is a small tree frog. Colors vary between brown, yellow, green, gray, and a mixture of these colors. Most species of coqui have white or yellow underbellies. These frogs have distinct eye colors, varying between brown and gold. This small tree frog measures a little longer than one inch. Coqui frogs have broadly rounded snouts and round bodies.
Unlike some other species of frogs, the coqui does not have webbing between their toes. Instead, they use small disks on their toes, making them identifiable. The disks cling to surfaces helping tree frogs climb plants, trees, and leaves.
Some of these tree frogs have lines or bands going down their backs. Others have these markings along their sides and between the eyes. Because there are so many differences in colors and markings, many people often confuse the coqui frog with another tree frog species.
Coqui frogs are capable of reproducing all year long and peaking during the rainy season (April-October). On average, female coqui lay between 15 and 40 eggs five times throughout the year. Coqui frogs lay their eggs in terrestrial plants, which differs from other frog species which lay their eggs in water. Male coqui gathers the eggs and guards them in the nest until they hatch. Males will periodically leave the nest to gather moisture to keep the eggs moist and hydrated.
The coqui has a unique life cycle. At the same time, most life cycles of frogs begin as a tadpole or larvae. Coquis hatch as tiny frogs with short tails. They are ultimately skipping the tadpole stage, which for the coqui is completed within the egg. Because of this, bodies of water are not necessary for females to lay eggs. As an adult, coqui frogs generally do not live longer than one year. However, the National Wildlife Federation has found some coquis living to be around six years old.
The most common complaint about coqui frogs is the loud mating call of the male. The mating call sounds like its name – “co-kee” – and is used to establish territory. When multiple male frogs are in a single area, they challenge each other in a call of dominance. The frog that loses generally flees and finds another place. The coqui calls begin around sunset and can sometimes continue through dawn. In many areas, the call can last all night; however, the call stops around midnight in higher elevations of Hawaii.
Coqui frogs have very few predators. The most common predators include snakes, rats, and lizards. Because of this, the species has been able to live in peace with continued population growth. The fact that there are only a few predators and that this frog species can breed all year long can quickly populate an area. Populations in some areas have reached up to 55,000 frogs per hectare.
Though the coqui population can thrive in most areas, some populations are threatened by disease. A fungus that impairs the frog’s skin’s permeability has been one of the causes for the decline in coqui populations. This fungus thrives in tropical areas, especially in environments preferred by coqui frogs. However, in drier climates where the coquis live, they tend to huddle in humid regions of this climate. The huddling increases the fungus spread and is swiftly reducing the population of coquis in many of these drier climates.
Controlling coqui frog populations have been difficult, especially when the frogs are invasive to a community. Methods to control populations include banning intentional transportation of frogs and the use of approved chemicals. Other methods include reducing available food sources and other deterrents to force the frogs to move to a new habitat.
The greenhouse frog is often confused with the coqui frog. This frog prefers to live in warm, tropical climates, such as Hawaii. This small tree frog is about the same size as the coqui frog but has a copper color, warty textured skin. The snout of the greenhouse frog is generally narrower, and the toe pads are less distinctive. Instead of loud calls, greenhouse frogs make a cricket-like sound. While coqui frogs live on the forest ground and in trees, greenhouse frogs only live on the forest ground.
There are some plants coqui frogs prefer to live in over others. Using these plants in landscapes helps encourage these frogs from infesting a yard. Knowing which plants are more attractive to these tree frogs can help decide proper landscaping while avoiding some of their preferred trees and plants.
Plants the coqui frog is attracted to include albizia clidemia, heliconia, ti lulu palm, and monstera. In addition to avoiding these plants, cleaning up and removing the dead leaves from large-leaf plants helps limit the number of places tree frogs can hide and nest.
The best way to prevent a coqui infestation is to take all precautionary measures in the yard. As with any other nuisance species, they tend to enter a yard searching for food, water, and shelter. Eliminating all of those will reduce the chances coqui frogs make themselves at home in a residential area.
Making a yard not friendly for the frogs requires knowing what frogs look for when seeking a home. Since coqui frogs are nocturnal, they will seek shelter in shady areas. They prefer moist underbrush, leaf piles, and holes in rock formations. After the sun goes down, these frogs climb into vegetation, searching for shelter among the leaves. Cleaning up yards and eliminating green waste helps keep tree frogs out of a yard.
Another method to keep coqui frogs away is to remove any dead leaves from plants. Trimming shrubs and raking up tree debris also eliminates more places for the frogs to hide. Since frogs like moist places, eliminate standing and dripping water.
For residential areas, fencing instead of trees to border the property. Create a buffer zone, keeping lush trees and bushes away from the house. For greenhouses, extend walls down to the ground. Extending the wall will prevent tree frogs from entering a greenhouse and living in the plants within.
When moving into a home with a well-established coqui population, it is important to start cleaning up the yard first. Remove any fallen tree and plant debris, thin out vegetation, and remove anything which will offer a hiding place for these tree frogs. Next, replace any thick vegetation low to the ground that is unable to be thinned out. Mow a buffer zone around the yard to keep the frogs away from the house.
If the frogs are still a problem, call for help from a local pest control specialist. The specialist will evaluate the situation, offer solutions, and, if necessary, help rid the yard of the frogs.
Coqui frogs are not only a noise nuisance; they also pose a threat to many of their non-native ecosystems to which they have made their new homes. These tiny tree frogs have a voracious appetite, putting the insects and spiders they feed on in danger and the other native species that rely on these food sources.
Because coqui frogs are very adaptable, they become comfortable in their new environments and swiftly grow in population. Their quick reproduction rate can quickly throw off an ecosystem causing problems for native animals. Large numbers of coqui frogs can also become a significant nuisance in residential communities. Because of this, these tree frogs are considered to be pests.
Exclusion methods are the best way to keep coqui frogs at a distance and away from a home. However, that does not always work. When coqui frogs settle in a yard, it is essential to the homeowner to come up with a plan to remove existing frogs and prevent more tree frogs from settling in their backyard.
A few frogs will eventually become a big problem and could turn into a full-blown infestation. Coqui frogs have forced people to move out of their homes due to their loud calls. Many of those who stay claim to suffer from a lack of sleep because of the noise. Other than the loud calls made by these frogs, homeowners find other native animals in the area are threatened when these invasive frogs move into a place and compete for food sources. These tree frogs also negatively affect tourism and tropical plant sales, disrupting the economy of the area they are infesting.
There are some removal options available in addition to the many methods to exclude coqui frogs from living in a backyard. Removal options include relocation methods and methods which kill the frogs. Below are some removal options designed to either relocate or force coqui frogs to leave a property.
Lure Traps: These lure frogs to an area and encourage females to lay eggs on the trap. The trap can be removed and relocated to a place away from residential communities.
Hand Capture: Make sure to wear gloves when trying to capture the frogs by hand. Once caught, place the frogs in a breathable container and relocate to an area far away.
Yard Maintenance: Clean up the yard, removing anything that may attract coqui frogs, including food, water, and shelter. Doing this will deter more frogs from living in a backyard and force existing frogs to move to another location.
Turn Off Outside Lights: Outside lights attract insects that these tree frogs eat. Leaving the lights off means fewer bugs, reducing the number of frogs in the area. Once the frogs realize there is not enough food in a room, they will move to another location where the insects and spiders they feed on are plentiful.
Saltwater Spray: Saltwater stings the feet of coqui frogs. Spay a saltwater mixture on sidewalks and other hard surfaces in the yard. Frogs do not like this and will stay away from the area.
Call a Pest Control Specialist: The specialist can diagnose the situation and severity of the frog population. Additionally, the specialist will determine the best solution to remove and eliminate the frogs from a residential area.
As cute as they may be, coqui frogs are often considered a nuisance animal and can upset ecosystems. Commonly found in warm, moist climates, this tree frog is adaptable and is starting to inhabit drier climates bordering these tropical ecosystems. Contact a local pest control company with questions and concerns about coqui frogs found in residential areas. The technicians can help determine if the frogs are a nuisance and help remove them from the site.
We Accept all Major Credit Cards
