Comment on “Invasive Harlequin Ladybird Carries Biological Weapons Against Native Competitors” | Zendy

Peter W. de Jong | Zendy; J.C. van Lenteren | Zendy; C. Lidwien Raak-van den Berg | Zendy

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Comment on “Invasive Harlequin Ladybird Carries Biological Weapons Against Native Competitors”

Author(s) -

Peter W. de Jong,

J.C. van Lenteren,

C. Lidwien Raak-van den Berg

Publication year - 2013

Publication title -

science

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 12.556

H-Index - 1186

eISSN - 1095-9203

pISSN - 0036-8075

DOI - 10.1126/science.1241745

Subject(s) - harmonia axyridis , microsporidia , introduced species , biology , invasive species , ecology , zoology , predation , predator , botany , spore , coccinellidae

We comment on the implications that Vilcinskaset al . (Reports, 17 May 2013, p. 862) attach to the finding that the exotic, invasive ladybirdHarmonia axyridis carries microsporidia to which this species is insensitive but that is lethal to species that are native to the invaded areas. The authors suggest that these microsporidia might serve as “biological weapons” against the native competitors, but we cast doubt on the importance of this suggestion in the field.

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