Book Details

From Biological Control to Invasion : the Ladybird Harmonia axyridis as a Model Species

Publication year: 2008

ISBN: 978-1-4020-6939-0

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Harmonia axyridis has been described as the "most invasive ladybird on Earth". It has a long history of use as a classical biological control agent in the USA and more recently in Europe. This beetle has been effective at controlling pest insects in a variety of crop systems but it poses unacceptable risks by impacting on non-target species as both an intraguild predator and competitor.Written by renowned scientists, this book is a synthesis of recent research on H. axyridis and provides informative insights into current perspectives and future directions. Biological control is an essential component of sustainable agriculture but the distinction between a successful biological control agent and an invasive species can be narrow. We hope that lessons can be learnt from H. axyridis.


Subject: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Classical biological control, Coccinellid, Intra-guild predation, Invasive alien species, insect, Entomology