The rate of introduction of alien terrestrial invertebrates is clearly increasing over
time (Giliomee 2011), as is also the case in both Europe and the USA (McCullough
et al. 2006). The cryptic nature of many of these invertebrates makes early detection
very difficult. In addition, the identification of terrestrial alien terrestrial invertebrates
is often problematic in South Africa, where local taxonomic expertise is lacking for
many groups, meaning that even native species cannot be reliably identified. The
training of taxonomists is a key priority to facilitate the detection of newly introduced species and to aid in their eradication and control (Convention on Biological
Diversity 2014). In some cases, even if a trained taxonomist is available locally, or
can be consulted abroad, the available specimens are often in immature forms, eggs
or damaged (Briski et al. 2011). In these cases, the identification of the species can
only be confirmed through molecular approaches, such as DNA barcoding (www.
boldsystems.org), which has been successfully used globally as an early detection
and management tool for invasive species (Armstrong and Ball 2005; Bergstrom
et al. 2018). Lastly, ongoing survey work should be continued to increase detection
of new invasive species, to better document their distribution patterns and spread and
especially to investigate their impacts, not only directly on their host species, but
throughout the wider biological communities within which they live.
References
Achiano KA, Giliomee JH, Allsopp E et al (2017) The exotic Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and other coccinellids in selected vineyards of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Afr Entomol 25:113–122. https://doi.org/10.4001/003.025.0113
Allsopp M (2004) Cape honeybee (Apis mellifera capensis Eshscholtz) and varroa mite (Varroa
destructor Anderson and Trueman) threats to honeybees and beekeeping in Africa. Int J Trop
Insect Sci 24:87–94. https://doi.org/10.1079/IJT20041
Annecke DP, Moran VC (1982) Insects and mites of cultivated plants in South Africa.
Butterworths, Durban
Armstrong KF, Ball SL (2005) Barcodes for biosecurity: invasive species identification. Philos
Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 360:1813–1823. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2005.1713
Bebber DP, Ramotowksi MAT, Gurr SJ (2013) Crop pests and pathogens move polewards in a
warming world. Nat Clim Chang 3:985–988. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1990
Bergstrom DM, Sharman A, Shaw JD et al (2018) Detection and eradication of a non-native
Collembola incursion in a hydroponics facility in East Antarctica. Biol Invasions 20:293–298.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1551-9
Bond W, Slingsby P (1984) Collapse of an ant-pant mutualism: the argentine ant (Iridomyrmex
humilis) and myrmecochorous Proteaceae. Ecology 4:1031–1037. https://doi.org/10.2307/
1938311
Brenton-Rule EC, Dobelmann J, Baty JW et al (2018) The origins of global invasions of the
German wasp (Vespula germanica) and its infection with four honey bee viruses. Biol Invasions
20:3445–3460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1786-0
Briski E, Ghabooli S, Bailey SA, MacIsaac HJ (2011) Assessing invasion risk across taxa and
habitats: Life stage as a determinant of invasion success. Divers Distrib 17:593–602. https://doi.
org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00763.x
7 Alien Terrestrial Invertebrates in South Africa
201
time (Giliomee 2011), as is also the case in both Europe and the USA (McCullough
et al. 2006). The cryptic nature of many of these invertebrates makes early detection
very difficult. In addition, the identification of terrestrial alien terrestrial invertebrates
is often problematic in South Africa, where local taxonomic expertise is lacking for
many groups, meaning that even native species cannot be reliably identified. The
training of taxonomists is a key priority to facilitate the detection of newly introduced species and to aid in their eradication and control (Convention on Biological
Diversity 2014). In some cases, even if a trained taxonomist is available locally, or
can be consulted abroad, the available specimens are often in immature forms, eggs
or damaged (Briski et al. 2011). In these cases, the identification of the species can
only be confirmed through molecular approaches, such as DNA barcoding (www.
boldsystems.org), which has been successfully used globally as an early detection
and management tool for invasive species (Armstrong and Ball 2005; Bergstrom
et al. 2018). Lastly, ongoing survey work should be continued to increase detection
of new invasive species, to better document their distribution patterns and spread and
especially to investigate their impacts, not only directly on their host species, but
throughout the wider biological communities within which they live.
References
Achiano KA, Giliomee JH, Allsopp E et al (2017) The exotic Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and other coccinellids in selected vineyards of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Afr Entomol 25:113–122. https://doi.org/10.4001/003.025.0113
Allsopp M (2004) Cape honeybee (Apis mellifera capensis Eshscholtz) and varroa mite (Varroa
destructor Anderson and Trueman) threats to honeybees and beekeeping in Africa. Int J Trop
Insect Sci 24:87–94. https://doi.org/10.1079/IJT20041
Annecke DP, Moran VC (1982) Insects and mites of cultivated plants in South Africa.
Butterworths, Durban
Armstrong KF, Ball SL (2005) Barcodes for biosecurity: invasive species identification. Philos
Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 360:1813–1823. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2005.1713
Bebber DP, Ramotowksi MAT, Gurr SJ (2013) Crop pests and pathogens move polewards in a
warming world. Nat Clim Chang 3:985–988. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1990
Bergstrom DM, Sharman A, Shaw JD et al (2018) Detection and eradication of a non-native
Collembola incursion in a hydroponics facility in East Antarctica. Biol Invasions 20:293–298.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-017-1551-9
Bond W, Slingsby P (1984) Collapse of an ant-pant mutualism: the argentine ant (Iridomyrmex
humilis) and myrmecochorous Proteaceae. Ecology 4:1031–1037. https://doi.org/10.2307/
1938311
Brenton-Rule EC, Dobelmann J, Baty JW et al (2018) The origins of global invasions of the
German wasp (Vespula germanica) and its infection with four honey bee viruses. Biol Invasions
20:3445–3460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1786-0
Briski E, Ghabooli S, Bailey SA, MacIsaac HJ (2011) Assessing invasion risk across taxa and
habitats: Life stage as a determinant of invasion success. Divers Distrib 17:593–602. https://doi.
org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00763.x
7 Alien Terrestrial Invertebrates in South Africa
201