Wanted! Invasive Species

Wanted! – Invasive Species

Your class has been hired by a conservation agency to do research on invasive species in Germany. Your job is to pick one species and write an information card about it. These cards will be handed out to visitors of nature reserves and local parks so that they are aware of the problem of invasive species and know which ones to look out for. Alternatively, you can also create a „wanted-poster“ for a species.Keep the information on the cards brief.

Each card should provide the visitors with the following information:

What is the scientific and common name of your species?
What does it look like?
Where is it originally from?
Why/How did it get introduced in Germany?
Why was it so successful at colonizing a new habitat?
What problems is it causing?
Does it threaten or compete with a native species?
Are there any solutions to the problem?

You should be able to present your card to your fellow students. Keep it short!

The following websites might be helpful with your research:

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deutschland-1599557.html

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Wanted!

Common name:

Asian lady beetle or Japanese ladybug

Scientific name: Harmoniaaxyridis

Appearance:

The color ranges from orange to red, usually 19 instead of 7 black dots.

Origin: Japan and China

How did it get introduced in Germany?

The Asian lady beetle was first introduced to France and Belgium, and later to Germany. It was sold to nurseries to help control plant lice.

Does it threaten or compete with any native species?

It threatens native lady beetle speciesbecause they have to compete for food and other resources.

Why has it spread so successfully?

The Asian lady beetle has a high tolerance for different ranges of temperatures, a high dispersal rate (native lady beetles reproduce once a season, the Asian invaders twice). Unlike native species, the Asian lady beetle doesn’t only eat plant lice, but also insect, larvae and even other lady beetles. Additionally, it has no natural predators.

Problems it causes:

Asian lady beetles cause problems for the wine industry. The bugs like to sit in the grapevines, and cannot be separated from the grapes. The wine made from those grapes often has a very bitter taste due to it’s a substance in its blood.

Possible solutions?So far, no measures have been taken to keep the Asian lady beetle populations under control.