Sentences with phrase «harlequin ladybird»
The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) was introduced to some countries as a biological control agent against agricultural pests such as aphids.
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org to record information about the harlequin ladybird's spread as well as for sightings of other ladybird species.
«The coupling of citizen science approaches with global collaborations among researchers will provide the scale of information required to address some of the complex ecological questions that remain unanswered,» Roy says, explaining what the future holds for research related to the harlequin ladybird.
A new paper published in the Journal of Biogeography today (13 October 2014) concludes that the harlequin ladybird, an invasive alien species first recorded in the UK in 2004, has a preference for urban areas and sunnier habitats.
Dr Roy added, «Coniferous woodland could potentially provide a refuge for some native ladybirds which would otherwise be threatened by the harlequin ladybird.»
A number of ladybird species within Britain are largely confined to coniferous woodland and it appears that such habitats are more resistant to invasion by the harlequin ladybird than other habitats.
Dr Purse added, «There are strikingly different colour forms of the harlequin ladybird from the orange with black spots to black with red spots.
Lead author Dr Bethan Purse from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology said, «Our new study indicates that environmental factors, particularly habitat, have made some areas of Britain such as cities more vulnerable to rapid invasion of the harlequin ladybird than other areas, even after recording intensity and proximity to initial invasion sites are accounted for.»
The results also show that harlequin ladybird have struggled to spread into coniferous woodland.
It's cute, it's bright, and it gobbles aphids, but the harlequin ladybird can be hard to love.
At the time of Majerus's diagnosis, Ware was a postdoc in his lab working on the ecology and genetics of the harlequin ladybird, a high - profile invasive species in Britain.
Scientists collected wild harlequin ladybirds from infested homes — including the home of the mother of one of the authors — and injected some with bacteria or yeast.
Work has also been done to identify potential natural enemies that might regulate populations of harlequin ladybirds, such as the wasp parasite Dinocampus coccinellae which occurs worldwide and uses most types of ladybirds as a host.