Scientists at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition in London have warned that the invasive harlequin ladybird is likely to threaten more than 1000 of Britain's native species. The harlequin has spread from Essex to Orkney in only four years and is now one of the fastest spreading non-native species in Europe, as well as the most invasive ladybird on Earth.
Dr Helen Roy of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is leading the project to monitor the harlequin's spread and impact on native species. She said the negative impact on Britain could be far-reaching and disruptive, with the potential to affect over 1000 of our native species. "In the US, where the harlequin arrived over 20 years ago, it has been associated with severe declines in native species," she said.
After concerns in the 1990s that the harlequin would soon arrive in Britain, its appearance here was confirmed in 2004. Researchers' first step has been to understand its subsequent rapid spread. The public has played a key role in monitoring the invasion through the Harlequin Ladybird Survey website, launched in 2005 and has since received more than 30,000 online records.
"Invasive alien species are one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity," says co-investigator Dr Remy Ware, from the University of Cambridge. "Using data from the Harlequin and UK Ladybird Surveys, we have a unique opportunity to study the early establishment, spread and adaptation of an invasive species."
The research team are now exploring how the few native enemies of the harlequin that do exist could be used to control the invasion. One idea is to use a sexually transmitted mite, which makes some ladybirds infertile. If the transmission of the mites could be encouraged, the harlequin population could become greatly reduced.
Other possible control options involve fungal disease, male-killing bacteria, a parasitic wasp and parasitic flies.
Dr Helen Roy of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is leading the project to monitor the harlequin's spread and impact on native species. She said the negative impact on Britain could be far-reaching and disruptive, with the potential to affect over 1000 of our native species. "In the US, where the harlequin arrived over 20 years ago, it has been associated with severe declines in native species," she said.
After concerns in the 1990s that the harlequin would soon arrive in Britain, its appearance here was confirmed in 2004. Researchers' first step has been to understand its subsequent rapid spread. The public has played a key role in monitoring the invasion through the Harlequin Ladybird Survey website, launched in 2005 and has since received more than 30,000 online records.
"Invasive alien species are one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity," says co-investigator Dr Remy Ware, from the University of Cambridge. "Using data from the Harlequin and UK Ladybird Surveys, we have a unique opportunity to study the early establishment, spread and adaptation of an invasive species."
The research team are now exploring how the few native enemies of the harlequin that do exist could be used to control the invasion. One idea is to use a sexually transmitted mite, which makes some ladybirds infertile. If the transmission of the mites could be encouraged, the harlequin population could become greatly reduced.
Other possible control options involve fungal disease, male-killing bacteria, a parasitic wasp and parasitic flies.
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