Harmonia axyridis: an environmental risk assessment for Northwest Europe

Abstract

In this paper, we summarize the international situation with respect to environmental risk assessment for biological control agents. Next, we apply a recently designed, comprehensive risk evaluation method consisting of a stepwise procedure to evaluate the environmental risks of Harmonia axyridis in Northwest Europe. This resulted in the very clear conclusion that H. axyridis is a potentially risky species for Northwest Europe, because it is able to establish, it has a very wide host range including species from other insect orders and even beyond the class of Insecta, it may feed on plant materials, it can cover large distances ([50 km per year), it does move into non-target areas, it may attack many non-target species including beneficial insects and insects of conservation concern, its activities have resulted in the reduction of populations of native predators in North America, it is known as a nuisance in North America and recently also in Northwest Europe, and it may develop as a pest of fruit in North America. Considering the H. axyridis case, current knowledge would lead to the conclusion that, although the predator is capable to effectively control several pest species, its risks are manifold and it should, thus, not have been released in Northwest Europe. At the time of the first releases in Nortwest Europe in 1995, the available scientific literature made clear that H. axyridis is a large sized polyphagous predator and has a great reproductive capacity in comparison with other ladybird beetles, and that there was a need to study non-target effects because of its polyphagous behaviour. In retrospect, this information should have been sufficient to reject import and release of this species, but it was apparently ignored by those who considered release of this predator in Northwest Europe. The case of Harmonia releases in Northwest Europe underlines that there is an urgent need for harmonized, world-wide regulation of biological control agents, including an information system on risky natural enemy species.

Photoperiodic control of development and reproduction in Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…In SE France, the average temperatures in September, October and November are 20°, 15° and 12°C, while in the Russian Far East they are 15°, 10° and 0°C, respectively (data from http://www.weatheronline.co.uk). The European populations of H. axyridis are now spreading into central and northwestern Europe (Adriaens et al, 2008;Brown et al, 2008;Poutsma et al, 2008;Van Lenteren et al, 2008;Barševskis, 2009;Berkvens et al, 2010). That relatively long day length induces diapause revealed by this study indicate that if unintentionally introduced the Far Eastern population would be able to colonize areas much further north than other strains.…”

“…In other experimental studies (Sakurai et al, 1988;Berkvens et al, 2008) only two contrasting photoperiods were used. However, an investigation of the total pattern of photoperiodic responses of an insect species and in particular the estimates of the threshold day lengths can be very important for predicting its phenology and potential geographic distribution, which for this coccinellid are matters of primary concern (Labrie et al, 2006;Adriaens et al, 2008;Brown et al, 2008;Koch & Galvan, 2008;Poutsma et al, 2008;Van Lenteren et al, 2008). Moreover, the recently studied populations of H. axyridis originated from Japan (Sakurai et al, 1988) and Europe (Ongagna & Iperti, 1994;Berkvens et al, 2008), and as this species is very variable (Soares et al, 2001;Lombaert et al, 2008;Berkvens et al, 2008Berkvens et al, , 2010 it would be interesting to investigate a population that originated from some other region.…”

Mode of overwintering of invasive Harmonia axyridis in the Netherlands

“…The introduction of H. axyridis is now considered an unfortunate event because of its negative side effects on, e.g., non-target species, fruit production, and human health (Koch 2003;van Lenteren et al 2008;De Clercq and Bale 2011). Since 2002 H. axyridis has spread rapidly through Europe (Brown et al 2008;Kenis et al 2010), and it has currently established in 26 European countries and has been recorded in four other European countries (Brown et al 2011b).…”

Aproceros leucopoda (Hymenoptera: Argidae): An East Asian pest of elms (Ulmus spp.) invading Europe

“…The latter was originally introduced as a biological control agent of aphids and coccids. It is now seen as a potential risk species as it is voracious and eats a wide range prey including many arthropods and even plants, besides the actual target pest species (van Lenteren et al, 2003(van Lenteren et al, , 2008Brown et al, 2008). Now, another invasive species has arrived in Europe, the East Asian sawfly Aproceros leucopoda Takeuchi, 1939, which causes outbreaks in south-eastern Europe and severely defoliates elms.…”