Article
Biology
Zoe A. Xirocostas, Jeff Ollerton, Riin Tamme, Begona Peco, Vincent Lesieur, Eve Slavich, Robert R. Junker, Meelis Partel, S. Raghu, Akane Uesugi, Stephen P. Bonser, Giancarlo M. Chiarenza, Mark J. Hovenden, Angela T. Moles
Summary: When a plant is introduced to a new ecosystem, it may escape from its coevolved herbivores, resulting in less damage and increased success for the introduced species. This mechanism, known as enemy release, varies among species and situations. Understanding the conditions for enemy release is crucial for identifying species and habitats that are most vulnerable to invasion. A study comparing herbivory levels on native and introduced plant species found that plants experienced significantly less damage in their introduced range, but no significant relationships were observed with time, space, or climate factors. Further research can explore other indicators of enemy release, such as leaf defenses or evolutionary relationships among species.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Wenxin Xue, Pengjun Xu, Xiufang Wang, Guangwei Ren, Xinwei Wang
Summary: The devastating impact of chemical pesticides has led to the adoption of sustainable agricultural pest management strategies, including biological control with natural enemies. China has successfully implemented natural-enemy-based biocontrol strategies, particularly for aphids and lepidopterans in tobacco cultivation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art natural-enemy-based biocontrol against arthropod pests in tobacco in China, including mass-rearing methods, augmentative release strategies, and the widespread use of natural enemies. Current and potential challenges for natural-enemy-based biocontrol in China are also discussed.
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Gaoge Wang, Yifei Ren, Shasha Wang, Minglei Hou, Florian Weinberger
Summary: Seaweed bioinvasions are impacting coastal environments globally, with the ability of seaweed invaders to deter enemies potentially influencing their success. Studies suggest that seaweed invaders may adjust their defense intensities in response to biological pressures in newly invaded habitats. The evidence of shifting defenses is mainly observed in the Asia-endemic red alga Agarophyton vermiculophyllum, which shows variations in defensive capacities between native and non-native populations in common garden experiments.
MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Yasir Islam, Ali Guncan, Yadong Fan, Xingmiao Zhou, Afifa Naeem, Farhan Mahmood Shah
Summary: This study investigates the impact of temperature on the development and predation ability of Harmonia axyridis, an important biocontrol agent. The results show that temperature affects the growth rate and predation rate of H. axyridis, with higher temperatures leading to faster development and higher predation rates.
Article
Ecology
Joshua I. Brian, Jane A. Catford
Summary: The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) is an important explanation for the high performance of exotic species, but the current framework of ERH does not explicitly link enemy release with exotic performance. This study provides evidence supporting the ERH by analyzing factors and contexts, allowing for predictions and effective management of exotic species.
Review
Biology
Angela T. Moles, Rhiannon L. Dalrymple, S. Raghu, Stephen P. Bonser, Jeff Ollerton
Summary: Introduced species often benefit from escaping their enemies, a concept known as the enemy release hypothesis. However, they may also lose mutualists when colonizing a new range, which can reduce their success or even prevent establishment. This study provides the first quantitative synthesis of the missed mutualist hypothesis, showing that plants interact with fewer mutualist species and have fewer interactions with mutualists in their introduced range compared to their native range. Understanding the role of missed mutualists can inform the management of introduced species.
Article
Ecology
Meng Xu, Xidong Mu, Shuang Zhang, Jaimie T. A. Dick, Bingtao Zhu, Dangen Gu, Yexin Yang, Du Luo, Yinchang Hu
Summary: The study found that exotic plant species generally suffer lower herbivore damage compared to native species. However, this difference was significant only for woody plants. There was no variation in enemy release with latitude, indicating that enemy release plays a consistent role regardless of latitude.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kamil Najberek, Wojciech Solarz, Magdalena Gasienica-Staszeczek, Pawel Olejniczak
Summary: Comparative studies on two alien species, Impatiens balfourii and I. glandulifera, with different degrees of invasiveness in Europe, were conducted to identify the factors determining invasiveness. The study found that I. balfourii experienced higher enemy pressure than I. glandulifera, but this did not affect their performance. No evidence of hybridization between the two species was found. Thus, the hypothesis that the evolution of the invasiveness of I. balfourii could be enhanced through hybridization with I. glandulifera was not supported.
JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Elva Beatriz Lopez-Luque, Edgardo Cortez-Mondaca, Jesos Valenzuela-Hernandez, Jesos Ricardo Camacho-Baez, Yulisa Sanchez-Gutierrez
Summary: The predation capability of adults from different species of Coccinellidae on sugarcane aphids was evaluated, with the red ladybird being the most voracious, especially in the fourth instar larval stage.
SOUTHWESTERN ENTOMOLOGIST
(2021)
Review
Entomology
John J. Sloggett
Summary: This paper reviews the effects of ladybird diet on chemical defense in this group of beetles, including autogenous production of alkaloids and sequestration of toxins from prey. The evidence for predators sequestering toxins from their prey is limited, and further research is needed to understand the costs and defensive value of accumulated toxins. The defensive value of pyrrolizidine alkaloids acquired from the ragwort aphid by ladybird predators is still not well-investigated. Additionally, understanding how ladybirds resist or tolerate defensive chemicals in their food is crucial to better understand the interaction between ladybird diet and chemical defense.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Nijat Narimanov, Kamal Hatamli, Martin H. Entling
Summary: Contrary to expectations, the invasive spider Mermessus trilobatus is more susceptible to predation by native species compared to local counterparts. This suggests that the relationship between the invasive spider and its native predator is mainly influenced by prey naivete rather than enemy release. Further studies are needed to explore the evolutionary and ecological processes contributing to the invasion success of Mermessus trilobatus in Europe, including the role of natural parasites and rapid reproduction.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniella Egli, Kerinne J. Harvey, Ben D. Moore, Christopher Mitchell, Terence Olckers
Summary: Fireweed, a highly invasive plant in Australia, may be undergoing adaptive changes in response to its invasion gradient, potentially affecting its interaction with insect herbivores. Despite differences in chemical defense between Australian and South African populations, there were no significant differences in susceptibility to insect attack, suggesting that biocontrol agents released in Australia may not be impacted by changes in plant chemistry.
Article
Entomology
Jessica A. Hartshorn, J. Forest Palmer, David R. Coyle
Summary: This study found that feeding by both generalist and specialist herbivores on Callery pear is lower compared to native tree species, suggesting that the Enemy Release Hypothesis may be a driving mechanism behind its invasion success.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Deeksha Kumari, Subhash Chander Verma, Prem Lal Sharma, Mahesh Balaso Gaikwad
Summary: The study evaluated the developmental biology, predatory potential, and functional response of Mallada desjardinsi larval instars fed on melon aphid, Aphis gossypii. The results showed that the predator's attack rate increased and handling time decreased with the advancement of the predator stage. Overall, Mallada desjardinsi larvae exhibited strong predation on melon aphids throughout their life cycle.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TROPICAL INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jan Raska, Katerina Chalusova, Jan Krajicek, Radomir Cabala, Zuzana Bosakova, Pavel Stys, Alice Exnerova
Summary: Prey species change their antipredator defence during ontogeny, which is connected to different potential predators over their life cycle. The reactions of spiders and birds to larvae and adults of two invasive true bug species with life-stage-specific chemical defence mechanisms differed significantly. Spiders were deterred by adult bugs' defences, while larvae defences were ineffective against them. Birds attacked larvae less often than adult bugs. The results indicate a predator-specific ontogenetic change in defence effectiveness, likely linked to the life-stage-specific composition of secretions.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
