Spread of a model invasive alien species, the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis in Britain and Ireland.

ABSTRACT: Invasive alien species are widely recognized as one of the main threats to global biodiversity. Rapid flow of information on the occurrence of invasive alien species is critical to underpin effective action. Citizen science, i.e. the involvement of volunteers in science, provides an opportunity to improve the information available on invasive alien species. Here we describe the dataset created via a citizen science approach to track the spread of a well-studied invasive alien species, the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Britain and Ireland. This dataset comprises 48 510 verified and validated spatio-temporal records of the occurrence of H. axyridis in Britain and Ireland, from first arrival in 2003, to the end of 2016. A clear and rapid spread of the spe

SUBMITTER: Brown PMJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6198752 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature