Nature Alien plants promote the spread of invasive insects

Non-native plants promote the spread of invasive insect species. They settle where their food plants already exist. This was discovered by an international research team with the participation of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research.

This makes it easier for insects to establish themselves and spread further. The increasing occurrence of harmful, invasive insect species could lead to greater damage to the environment, biodiversity and the economy, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) announced on Tuesday.

One example from Switzerland of such an invasive insect species is the marmorated stink bug. This fruit and vegetable pest, also known as the "stink bug", is notorious for its foul-smelling defensive secretion. There are numerous host plants for the stink bug in Switzerland, including the tree of heaven and the summer lilac.

The research team assumes that the number of invasions will continue to increase, thereby exacerbating the problem in the future. Biosecurity measures against plants and insects, such as regulations on the import and pesticide treatment of plants, are important. It is also important that garden owners prefer native plants to non-native ones. Measures such as the ban on the sale of the Chinese hemp palm, known as the "Ticino palm", help in this regard.

SDA