Journal
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Volume 111, Issue 5, Pages 605-615Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S000748532100033X
Keywords
Biological control; exotic species; interspecific interaction; predators; software CLIMEX
Categories
Funding
- Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior - Brasil (CAPES) through PROEX-PPGEA
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Studies have shown that introduced alien ladybird beetle species could have negative impacts on native ladybird populations in South America, particularly in terms of climate suitability where the introduced species C. montrouzieri has an advantage over the native species T. notata.
Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) (Coccinellidae) is a predatory ladybird beetle native to South America. It specializes in mealybugs prey (Pseudococcidae), but relatively little is known about its ecology. In contrast, the ladybird beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coccinellidae) is indigenous to Australia and has been introduced to many countries worldwide including Brazil for biological control of mealybugs. The potential impacts of these introductions to native coccinellids have rarely been considered. The software CLIMEX estimated the climate suitability for both species as reflected in the Ecoclimatic Index (EI). Much of South America, Africa, and Australia can be considered climatically suitable for both species, but in most cases, the climate is considerably more favorable for C. montrouzieri than T. notata, especially in South America. The CLIMEX model also suggests seasonal differences in growth conditions (e.g. rainfall and temperature) that could affect the phenology of both species. These models suggest that few locations in South America would be expected to provide T. notata climatic refugia from C. montrouzieri. Although other ecological factors will also be important, such as prey availability, this analysis suggests a strong potential for displacement of a native coccinellid throughout most of its range as a consequence of the invasion by an alien competitor.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available