Article

Tracking an ectoparasitic fungus of Harmonia axyridis in the USA using literature records and citizen science data. IOBC-WPRS BULLETIN (2019) 145:17-22

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Abstract

Hesperomyces harmoniae nom. prov. (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) is a common fungal ectoparasite of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a globally invasive pest species. We launched an initiative to create a dataset encompassing all available records of the H. axyridis-H. harmoniae nom. prov. association in the USA. Reports have been gathered from the literature and from online citizen science platforms such as Bugguide and iNaturalist. A total of 163 curated records were downloaded from Bugguide and iNaturalist. Using these records, we built a distribution map available at http://beetlehangers.org. All occurrences are shown, each with location information, collection date, collector(s), and source-Bugguide, iNaturalist or literature. In time, the map will become searchable by date, as to be able to determine where in the USA the ladybirds-parasite association originated and track its distributional expansion over the years.

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... The crowdsourcing of fungal biodiversity has become an important source of information for the publication of inventories and checklists (Haelewaters et al., 2019;Heilmann-Clausen et al., 2019;Sheehan et al., 2021), and analyses of phenology and climate-derived dynamics of fruiting (Gange et al., 2011;Heilmann-Clausen et al., 2016;Andrew et al., 2017). The fungal conservation has especially benefited from crowdsourcing, since many rare and protected species are difficult to find, yet quite often, they are reliably identifiable in the field (Barron, 2011;Molina et al., 2011;Mueller, 2017;Irga et al., 2020). ...
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The paper presents the first analysis of crowdsourcing data of all observations of fungi (including lichens) and myxomycetes in Northwestern Siberia uploaded to iNaturalist.org to date (24.02.2022). The Introduction presents an analysis of fungal diversity crowdsourcing globally, in Russia, and in the region of interest. Materials and methods describe the protocol of uploading data to iNaturalist.org, the structure of the crowdsourcing community, initiative to revise the accumulated data, procedures of data analysis, and compilation of a dataset of revised crowdsourced data. The Results present the analysis of accumulated data by several parameters: temporal, geographical and taxonomical scope, observation and identification efforts, identifiability of various taxa, species novelty and Red Data Book categories and the protection status of registered observations. The Discussion provides data on usability of crowdsourcing data for biodiversity research and conservation of fungi, including pros and contras. The Electronic Supplements to the paper include an annotated checklist of observations of protected species with information on Red Data Book categories and the protection status, and an annotated checklist of regional records of new taxa. The paper is supplemented with a dataset of about 15 000 revised and annotated records available through Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The tradition of crowdsourcing is rooted in mycological societies around the world, including Russia. In Northwestern Siberia, a regional mycological club was established in 2018, encouraging its members to contribute observations of fungi on iNaturalist.org. A total of about 15 000 observations of fungi and myxomycetes were uploaded so far, by about 200 observers, from three administrative regions (Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and Tyumen Region). The geographical coverage of crowdsourcing observations remains low. However, the observation activity has increased in the last four years. The goal of this study consisted of a collaborative effort of professional mycologists invited to help with the identification of these observations and analysis of the accumulated data. As a result, all observations were reviewed by at least one expert. About half of all the observations have been identified reliably to the species level and received Research Grade status. Of those, 90 species (195 records) represented records of taxa new to their respective regions; 876 records of 53 species of protected species provide important data for conservation programmes. The other half of the observations consists of records still under-identified for various reasons: poor quality photographs, complex taxa (impossible to identify without microscopic or molecular study), or lack of experts in a particular taxonomic group. The Discussion section summarises the pros and cons of the use of crowdsourcing for the study and conservation of regional fungal diversity, and summarises the dispute on this subject among mycologists. Further research initiatives involving crowdsourcing data must focus on an increase in the quality of observations and strive to introduce the habit of collecting voucher specimens among the community of amateurs. The timely feedback from experts is also important to provide quality and the increase of personal involvement.
... Citizen science projects have gained more traction in recent years and examples of large-scale projects dependent on input from nonprofessionals, are commonplace (e.g., Douglas, 2016). Haelewaters et al. (2019c) downloaded and curated North American occurrences of Hesperomyces virescens associated with the invasive alien species Harmonia axyridis from citizen science platforms Bugguide and iNaturalist. All records were used to build a map at Beetlehangers.org (see "Relevant Websites section"), the primary aim of which is to track the distributional range of the ladybird-parasite association through time. ...
Chapter
Phylogenetic studies of Laboulbeniomycetes support recognition of three orders (Herpomycetales, Laboulbeniales, Pyxidiophorales) and two unnamed clades containing conidial, arthropod-associated fungi and a poorly known perithecial genus, Subbaromyces. Herpomycetales and Laboulbeniales include obligate arthropod-associated biotrophs characterized by a parenchymatous thallus of several thousand cells. Pyxidiophorales are hyphal mycoparasites with an unusual three-morph life cycle. The two-celled ascospore with a distinctive apparatus for attachment to arthropods ties together all Laboulbeniomycetes. The complex morphologies and life histories of these fungi are described as a background for research directions that will rely heavily on molecular methods, including phylogenomics, with emphasis on host–parasite relations.
... It was introduced as a biocontrol agent in several countries but also arrived unintentionally in many other countries (Roy et al., 2016;Camacho-Cervantes et al., 2017). Harmonia axyridis is often reported as host to H. virescens (see Haelewaters et al., 2019 ...
Article
Many fungal species have been described based on morphological characters. Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales), a parasite of ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) is no exception; it has been considered a species with near-global distribution and wide host range. Since its description in 1891, this fungus has been found on 30 ladybird species, in 20 genera and 5 subfamilies. However, species hypotheses for microscopic organisms should be treated with caution. We hypothesized that H. virescens is in reality a complex consisting of many different species, each adapted to individual host species. Based on ribosomal sequence data, distinct clades within H. virescens are found, each clade consisting of isolates from a single host species or host species within a single genus. Several species delimitation methods confirm that these lineages represent separate species. Consequently, H. virescens is not a fungus with wide host range but instead a complex of many species, each with strict host specificity. Hesperomyces harmoniae nom. prov. on Harmonia axyridis is separated from all other clades within the complex. Populations of H. axyridis overlap with Olla v-nigrum in the USA, and with Cheilomenes propinqua in South Africa. Nonetheless, isolates of Hesperomyces removed from these ladybirds are retrieved in distinct clades, always segregated by host species. Hesperomyces harmoniae causes mortality of H. axyridis in laboratory conditions and does not seem to transmit to other ladybirds. This combination of molecular phylogenetic and experimental work has important implications in the potential use of H. harmoniae as a biological control against H. axyridis.
Book
EDITORIAL ON THERESEARCH TOPIC "LADYBIRDS: CONSERVATION, ECOLOGY AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISMS". Human impact on the natural world has expanded enormously over the past century and a half, with rapid population growth and an increasingly globalized economy causing pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change (Johnson et al., 2017). This threatens biodiversity and proper functioning of natural ecosystems, which we depend on for resources (wood, food, etc.) and ecological services (water storage and purification, waste treatment, pollination, etc.) (Vilà et al., 2006; Newbold et al., 2015; Dasgupta, 2021). One major problem is the ecological disturbance caused by organisms invading ecosystems outside their natural ranges—these invasions may occur inadvertently, for example through international trade, or be the result of deliberate introductions that have got out of control (e.g., Allendorf and Lundquist, 2003; Dunn and Hatcher, 2015; Pfliegler et al., 2018). Invading species disrupt the normal functioning of ecosystems by directly outcompeting native species, destabilizing food webs, or affecting the cycling of nutrients through the ecosystem. Almost without exception, invading species set in motion a chain of ecological effects that eventually result in ecosystems that are less healthy and less productive. Invasive alien species (IAS) are often considered pests and can drive biodiversity declines globally (Mollot et al., 2017). A prime example of one such deliberate introduction that has gone awry is that of Harmonia axyridis, the harlequin ladybird (Brown et al., 2011; Roy et al., 2016). Ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) are primarily predaceous insects. They play a crucial role in the regulation of herbivorous insect populations in natural and managed systems. For decades, a countless number of individuals of different species have been introduced in regions to which they were not native as part of classical biological control strategies. However, from a conservationist viewpoint, these approaches have been revealed to have negative effects on native biota (Soares et al., in press; Rondoni et al., 2021). In the last 30 years, populations of many formerly common native species of ladybird have declined in several countries in North and South America and Europe. This occurred in tandem with increasing populations of two IAS, Coccinella septempunctata (seven-spotted ladybird) in North America and H. axyridis globally (e.g., Evans et al., 2011; Roy et al., 2016; Brown and Roy, 2018; Camacho-Cervantes et al., 2017; Hiller and Haelewaters, 2019). Ladybirds face many threats. Some species might be at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, pollution by agrochemicals, climate change, and overexploitation of resources (e.g., Harvey et al., 2020). In light of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Ladybird Specialist Group consisting of 50 members was recently established, with the following goals: (i) identify ladybird species with high extinction risk, (ii) determine the factors leading to high extinction risk, (iii) develop strategies to manage risk and improve the conservation status of these species, and (iv) implement conservation management for threatened ladybird species (IUCN SSC Ladybird Specialist Group, 2018). As a first major output from this group, Soares et al. (in press) reviewed the major ecological threats currently facing ladybirds and identified actions contributing to the conservation and recovery of ladybird populations. These authors proposed a roadmap for ladybird conservation strategies at different timescales. Conservation of locally native ladybirds does not only depend on the collation of existing information (for IUCN Red List assessments), but also on active collaborations among stakeholders (researchers, citizen scientists, conservation practitioners) to share data, coordinate standardized surveying efforts, and efficiently disseminate results. The eleven papers in this Research Topic contribute directly to this conservation effort, through actions and solutions at short-term, mid-term, and long-term timescales (Soares et al., in press). Three papers address short-term, so-called “no-regret” solutions towards education for awareness, citizen science, and capacity building. The European Ladybirds smartphone application (Skuhrovec et al.) is a collaborative citizen science project to compile records of ladybirds across Europe and assess distributional changes over time, while connecting and engaging people in nature and increasing awareness about the diversity and ecological importance of ladybirds. Weyman et al. evaluate the role of citizen scientists in collecting distribution data in Ireland based on the submission of pictures through social media channels, using ladybirds as a case example. Stowe et al. demonstrate that pollen and nectar increase reproductive success and alter oviposition patterns in Hippodamia convergens, highlighting the importance of floral resources in the agricultural landscape to the conservation of this aphid predator and its biocontrol services. Several papers address mid-term actions. Zakharov et al. present new records of H. axyridis in Eastern Europe, showing occupation of new territory from the western borders of Russia to the Volga River, mainly in 2018–2020 and with a dispersal rate of 200 km/year. Two studies discuss the species composition and abundance of ladybirds in the center and outskirts of Prague, Czechia. Honek et al. reveal that the warm urban mesoclimate significantly supports the seasonal dynamics of IAS H. axyridis, whereas Skuhrovec et al. show that species richness and abundance of native ladybirds are lower in the urban center compared to the outskirts. Farrow et al. explore why Coccinella quinquepunctata is restricted to exposed riverine sediments in Wales and Scotland. The authors rule out an effect exerted by H. axyridis, but, instead, highlight negative impacts by an invasive alien herbaceous plant, Impatiens glandulifera: its shallow roots lead to increased susceptibility to erosion, and its effect on soil microbial communities results in homogenization of the native plant community. In their second contribution, Farrow et al. present the results of their standardized sampling in rural woodland sites in the UK and find that (1) H. axyridis does not dominate ladybird communities in these habitats and (2) there are distinct native ladybird communities associated with woodland type. Systematic long-term monitoring of ladybirds, based on standardized sampling protocols, is a fundamental tool to understand species population dynamics. The study by Hesler and Beckendorf summarizes results from 14 years of sampling ladybirds in five field crops and restored prairie in eastern South Dakota, USA. Sample rates of ladybirds in alfalfa, spring grains, and corn are decreased compared to those of a previous long-term survey. Native adult ladybirds show a significant declining trend in corn but not in other habitats. The authors discuss their findings in light of prey availability in various crops and landscape variables. Two papers of the Research Topic focus on natural enemies of H. axyridis. de Groot and Haelewaters review what is known about simultaneous infections of H. axyridis, highlighting the importance of incorporating multiple species interactions in future studies of this ladybird. Finally, Haelewaters et al. evaluate the effects of selected host, climate, and landscape variables on infection probability of H. axyridis with the microfungal ectoparasite Hesperomyces harmoniae (Haelewaters et al., in press). This community ecology work may prove vital for integrated pest management.
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The dramatic spread of invasive alien species over the past century is considered to be an important threat to ecosystems worldwide. The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, from eastern Asia, is considered to be one of the most invasive species. Originally introduced across the world as a biological control agent against crop pests owing to its voracious appetite and hardiness, those same qualities have made H. axyridis an invader that is difficult to eradicate. Harmonia axyridis has proven resilient against a variety of pathogens that have negative effects on other coccinellids. However, little research has examined the effects of simultaneous infections of multiple natural enemies on H. axyridis. Here we present the available information on such double infections on H. axyridis, and discuss further research directions in this area.
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Our understanding of fungal diversity is far from complete. Species descriptions generally focus on morphological features, but this approach may underestimate true diversity. Using the morphological species concept, Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a single species with global distribution and wide host range. Since its description 120 years ago, this fungal parasite has been reported from 30 species of ladybird hosts on all continents except Antarctica. These host usage patterns suggest that H. virescens could be made up of many different species, each adapted to individual host species. Using sequence data from three gene regions, we found evidence for distinct clades within Hesperomyces virescens, each clade corresponding to isolates from a single host species. We propose that these lineages represent separate species, driven by adaptation to different ladybird hosts. Our combined morphometric, molecular phylogenetic and ecological data provide support for a unified species concept and an integrative taxonomy approach.
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Invasive alien species are widely recognized as one of the main threats to global biodiversity. Rapid flow of information on the occurrence of invasive alien species is critical to underpin effective action. Citizen science, i.e. the involvement of volunteers in science, provides an opportunity to improve the information available on invasive alien species. Here we describe the dataset created via a citizen science approach to track the spread of a well-studied invasive alien species, the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Britain and Ireland. This dataset comprises 48 510 verified and validated spatio-temporal records of the occurrence of H. axyridis in Britain and Ireland, from first arrival in 2003, to the end of 2016. A clear and rapid spread of the species within Britain and Ireland is evident. A major reuse value of the dataset is in modelling the spread of an invasive species and applying this to other potential invasive alien species in order to predict and prevent their further spread.
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This study documents the interaction of two coccinellid-specific ectoparasites, a podapolipid mite Coccipolipus hippodamiae (McDaniel et Morrill) and a laboulbenialean fungus Hesperomyces virescens Thaxter with the lady beetle Harmonia axyridis (Pallas). The study objectives were to (1) determine the prevalence and intensity of both parasites and (2) predict the influence of parasitism on host survival during the winter season. The prevalence of mite and fungus in host aggregations ranged from 3.2 to 17.4% and 3.6 to 43.5%, respectively, in winter aggregations in five different locations in Mississippi, southeastern USA, from 2007-2009. The mite colonized the subelytral space of male and female H. axyridis. Mite intensity was greatest on fungus-infected beetles, especially females. Fungus intensity was greatest on the abdomen of H. axyridis males that harbored mites than those that did not. H. axyridis adults (particularly males) infected with the mite and fungus or the fungus alone had lower survival rates, under simulated winter conditions, than those not infected with any parasites. This research documents the parasitic mite C. hippodamiae infecting H. axyridis under natural field conditions for the first time anywhere in the world.
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The laboulbenialean fungi occur throughout the world and are closely associated with a range of arthropods, including many coleopteran hosts. Throughout the summer of 2004, coccinellids were collected from a Bluegrass savanna woodland ecosystem, dominated by blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata and Chinkapin Oak Quercus muehlenbergii, and the adults were examined for the presence of Hesperomyces virescens using binocular and scanning electron microscopy. Over 80% of adult Harmonia axyridis, a species previously reported as having a persistent association with the fungus, were infected. No significant differences were observed in incidence on male and female hosts, however, the distribution of fungus differed between sexes. Female H. axyridis had a greater percentage of infection on their elytron compared to other parts of their body whilst male infection was concentrated around their elytra, legs and abdomen. Although infection rates were significantly lower, we report, for the first time, the presence of this fungus on the hosts Cycloneda munda, Brachiacantha quadripunctata and Psyllobora vigintimaculata. This is the first study documenting the incidence of this insect-associated fungus with these native coccinellids of North America. In the samples collected from the Bluegrass savanna, two species (Coleomegilla maculata and Hyperaspis signata) were not infected by this fungus.
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The coccinellid-specific parasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens Thaxter was found on the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), in fall and winter in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Research objectives were 1) to determine the density of H. virescens on field-collected H. axyridis adults held in the laboratory, and 2) to determine H. virescens presence, density, and distribution on H. axyridis adults in the field. In the laboratory, male and female H. axyridis adults hosted >150 H. virescens mature thalli (i.e., fruiting bodies); distributed primarily on the elytra and abdomen. At the overwintering site, H. virescens density per host was often <20 mature thalli, which were distributed primarily on the elytra of both sexes. On average, 52.5 and 57.4% of H. axyridis males and females, respectively, hosted H. virescens mature thalli in late winter (5 March 2003); <14% of either sex hosted mature thalli the following fall (15, 22, and 28 October and 10 November 2003) at the same site. This study suggests that H. virescens is an established parasite of H. axyridis in Pennsylvania but that field estimates of infection may vary considerably between dates that adult beetles arrive and depart from overwintering sites. Preponderance of fungal thalli on the dorsum rather than the ventrum of H. axyridis males suggests that mating behavior is not solely responsible for transmission of H. virescens from infected to noninfected adults.
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Harmonia axyridis is an invasive alien predator in many countries across the world. The rapid establishment and spread of this species is of concern because of the threat it poses to biodiversity as a generalist predator. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the success of this species as an invader is not only intriguing but also critical to our understanding of the processes governing such invasions. The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) could explain the rapid population growth of many invasive alien species. However, empirical evidence in support of the ERH is lacking. An alternative hypothesis that could explain rapid population growth is evolution of increased competitive ability (EICA). Here we provide an overview of the parasites and pathogens of coccinellids with a particular focus on H. axyridis as a host. We examine the differential susceptibility of host species and highlight the resilience of H. axyridis in comparison to other coccinellids. We recognise the paucity and limitations of available information and suggest that studies, within a life-table framework, comparing life history traits of H. axyridis in both the native and introduced ranges are necessary. We predict that H. axyridis could benefit from both enemy release and EICA within the introduced range but require further empirical evidence. Keywords Harmonia axyridis –Natural enemies–Enemy release hypothesis–EICA–Parasites–Pathogens
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Hesperomyces virescens Thaxter (Laboulbeniales: Laboulbeniaceae) is a parasitic fungus that infects lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) via horizontal transmission between adults at overwintering and feeding sites. The differential behavior of male and female hosts could have profound effects on intensity of infection and positioning of fungus on the host's integument. The influence of host gender on infection rate, density and distribution of this parasite on the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), was determined at a feeding site. Adult H. axyridis were sampled from pecan, Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch, trees in northern Mississippi, USA, during summer and early fall 2003-2004. Results indicated that the behavior of male or female beetles on pecan trees had only a limited effect on the intensity of infection. When averaged over the entire season, the percentage of H. axyridis infected with H. virescens was not influenced by host gender. In 2003, a seasonal average of 54 and 39% of males and females, respectively, were infected; whereas in 2004, 36 and 41% of male and female beetles, respectively, were infected. The percentage of males infected with H. virescens was correlated with the number of males captured at the site in 2003; infection rate decreased as male abundance increased. Infection rate did not correlate with female abundance in 2003 or male or female abundance in 2004. Host gender had a considerable effect on the density and distribution of the fungus. Hesperomyces virescens mature thalli were denser on male rather than female beetles. Also, thallus density was often greatest on the elytra, meso- and metathorax, and abdomen of males and elytra of females, than on other body parts, in 2003. In 2003 and 2004, approximately 59 and 97% and 67 and 96% of males and females, respectively, had mature thalli distributed on the elytra. Prevalence of H. virescens thalli on the dorsum of H. axyridis females suggests that mating behavior is important in fungal transmission. However, prevalence of thalli on the dorsum of H. axyridis males suggests that behaviors other than mating contribute to the transmission of H. virescens onto male beetles. Spread of H. virescens ascospores from infected to uninfected H. axyridis adults of different generations, at feeding sites, might be vital to maintaining stable populations of the fungus.
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The ectoparasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens was studied on Harmonia axyridis in North Carolina, in the southeastern United States. A primary goal was to investigate transmission of the disease by examining the correlation between the pattern of fungal infection and seasonal change in host behavior. Beetles were collected as they arrived at their winter quarters at two sites; in one site they were also subsampled at mid- and late winter. Insects were sexed and weighed, fungal thalli were counted, and their location on the host body mapped; spermathecae of females were examined for sperm. Infection levels varied between sites, differed significantly between the sexes in one site but not the other, and increased by approximately 40% during winter. The distribution of thalli on the body changed seasonally, in concert with behavioral changes in the host. At fall flight, thalli were found most often on the posterior elytra of mated females, virgin females, and males. This is suggestive that the disease had been spread among both sexes via successful and failed copulation attempts; however, the relatively low incidence of infection on the male venter does not fit the sexual transmission scenario. During winter, thallus location shifts in concert with beetle aggregation behavior, with infections more often located on the head and legs. Fresh weight of beetles decreased by approx. 20% during winter, but was not affected by disease status. Prior to spring flight, uninfected females were preferred as mating partners, but the probable relationship between female age and infection status complicates interpretation of the data.
Article
Many fungal species have been described based on morphological characters. Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales), a parasite of ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) is no exception; it has been considered a species with near-global distribution and wide host range. Since its description in 1891, this fungus has been found on 30 ladybird species, in 20 genera and 5 subfamilies. However, species hypotheses for microscopic organisms should be treated with caution. We hypothesized that H. virescens is in reality a complex consisting of many different species, each adapted to individual host species. Based on ribosomal sequence data, distinct clades within H. virescens are found, each clade consisting of isolates from a single host species or host species within a single genus. Several species delimitation methods confirm that these lineages represent separate species. Consequently, H. virescens is not a fungus with wide host range but instead a complex of many species, each with strict host specificity. Hesperomyces harmoniae nom. prov. on Harmonia axyridis is separated from all other clades within the complex. Populations of H. axyridis overlap with Olla v-nigrum in the USA, and with Cheilomenes propinqua in South Africa. Nonetheless, isolates of Hesperomyces removed from these ladybirds are retrieved in distinct clades, always segregated by host species. Hesperomyces harmoniae causes mortality of H. axyridis in laboratory conditions and does not seem to transmit to other ladybirds. This combination of molecular phylogenetic and experimental work has important implications in the potential use of H. harmoniae as a biological control against H. axyridis.
Article
Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been introduced widely for biological control of agricultural pests. Harmonia axyridis has established in four continents outside of its native range in Asia and it is considered an invasive alien species (IAS). Despite a large body of work on invasion ecology, establishment mechanisms of IAS and their interactions with natural enemies remain open questions. Parasites, defined as multicellular organisms that do not directly kill the host, could potentially play an important role in regulating host populations. This study presents a review of the parasites of H. axyridis, discussing their distributions and effects on host populations across the host’s native and invasive range. These parasites are: Hesperomyces virescens Thaxt. fungi, Coccipolipus hippodamiae (McDaniel and Morrill) mites, and Parasitylenchus bifurcatus Poinar and Steenberg nematodes.
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The process of invasion and the desire to predict the invasiveness (and associated impacts) of new arrivals has been a focus of attention for ecologists over centuries. The volunteer recording community has made unique and inspiring contributions to our understanding of invasion biology within Britain. Indeed information on non-native species (NNS) compiled within the GB Non-Native Species Information Portal (GB-NNSIP) would not have been possible without the involvement of volunteer experts from across Britain. Here we review examples of ways in which biological records have informed invasion biology. We specifically examine NNS information available within the GB-NNSIP to describe patterns in the arrival and establishment of NNS providing an overview of habitat associations of NNS in terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments. Monitoring and surveillance of the subset of NNS that are considered to be adversely affecting biodiversity, society or the economy, termed invasive non-native species (INNS), is critical for early warning and rapid response. Volunteers are major contributors to monitoring and surveillance of INNS and not only provide records from across Britain but also underpin the system of verification necessary to confirm the identification of sightings. Here we describe the so-called 'alert system' which links volunteer experts with the wider recording community to provide early warning of INNS occurrence. We highlight the need to increase understanding of community and ecosystem-level effects of invasions and particularly understanding of ecological resilience. Detailed field observations, through biological recording, will provide the spatial, temporal and taxonomic breadth required for such research. The role of the volunteer recording community in contributing to the understanding of invasion biology has been invaluable and it is clear that their expertise and commitment will continue to be so.
  • H E Roy
  • P M J Brown
  • T Adriaens
  • N Berkvens
  • I Borges
  • S Clusella-Trullas
  • R F Comont
  • P De Clercq
  • R Eschen
  • A Estoup
  • E W Evans
  • B Facon
  • M M Gardiner
  • A Gil
  • A Grez
  • T Guillemaud
  • D Haelewaters
  • A Herz
  • A Honek
  • A G Howe
  • C Hui
  • W D Hutchison
  • M Kenis
  • R L Koch
  • J Kulfan
  • L Lawson Handley
  • E Lombaert
  • A Loomans
  • J Losey
  • A O Lukashuk
  • D Maes
  • A Magro
  • K M Murray
  • G San Martin
  • Z Martinkova
  • I A Minnaar
  • O Nedved
  • M J Orlova-Bienkowskaja
  • N Osawa
  • W Rabitsch
  • H P Ravn
  • G Rondoni
  • S L Rorke
  • S K Ryndevich
  • M.-G Saethre
  • J J Sloggett
  • A O Soares
  • R Stals
  • M C Tinsley
  • A Vandereycken
  • P Van Wielink
  • S Viglášová
  • P Zach
  • I A Zakharov
  • T Zaviezo
  • Z Zhao
Roy, H. E., Brown, P. M. J., Adriaens, T., Berkvens, N., Borges, I., Clusella-Trullas, S., Comont, R. F., de Clercq, P., Eschen, R., Estoup, A., Evans, E. W., Facon, B., Gardiner, M. M., Gil, A., Grez, A., Guillemaud, T., Haelewaters, D., Herz, A., Honek, A., Howe, A. G., Hui, C., Hutchison, W. D., Kenis, M., Koch, R. L., Kulfan, J., Lawson Handley, L., Lombaert, E., Loomans, A., Losey, J., Lukashuk, A. O., Maes, D., Magro, A., Murray, K. M., San Martin, G., Martinkova, Z., Minnaar, I. A., Nedved, O., Orlova-Bienkowskaja, M. J., Osawa, N., Rabitsch, W., Ravn, H. P., Rondoni, G., Rorke, S. L., Ryndevich, S. K., Saethre, M.-G., Sloggett, J. J., Soares, A. O., Stals, R., Tinsley, M. C., Vandereycken, A., van Wielink, P., Viglášová, S., Zach, P., Zakharov, I. A., Zaviezo, T. and Zhao, Z. 2016. The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis: global perspectives on invasion history and ecology. Biol. Invasions 18: 997-1044.