75-473: Hista is a genus of moths within the family Castniidae . This article relating to moth family Castniidae is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Moth Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies . They were previously classified as suborder Heterocera, but the group is paraphyletic with respect to butterflies (suborder Rhopalocera) and neither subordinate taxon
150-733: A ballast tank of a ship traveling from the temperate zone through tropical waters may experience temperature fluctuations as much as 20 °C. Heat challenges during transport may enhance the stress tolerance of species in their non-native range, by selecting for genotypes that will survive a second applied heat stress, such as increased ocean temperature in the founder population. Invasive species often exploit disturbances to an ecosystem ( wildfires , roads , foot trails ) to colonize an area. Large wildfires can sterilize soils, while adding nutrients . Invasive plants that can regenerate from their roots then have an advantage over natives that rely on seeds for propagation. Invasive species can affect
225-589: A few of the traits, and that noninvasive species had these also. Common invasive species traits include fast growth and rapid reproduction , such as vegetative reproduction in plants; association with humans; and prior successful invasions. Domestic cats are effective predators; they have become feral and invasive in places such as the Florida Keys . An introduced species might become invasive if it can outcompete native species for resources. If these species evolved under great competition or predation , then
300-680: A great decrease in the population size and may constrict genetic variation , the individuals begin to show additive variance as opposed to epistatic variance. This conversion can lead to increased variance in the founding populations, which permits rapid evolution . Selection may then act on the capacity to disperse as well as on physiological tolerance to new stressors in the environment, such as changed temperature and different predators and prey. Rapid adaptive evolution through intraspecific phenotypic plasticity, pre-adaptation and post-introduction evolution lead to offspring that have higher fitness. Critically, plasticity permits changes to better suit
375-470: A habitat in ways advantageous to other species. For example, zebra mussels increase habitat complexity on lake floors, providing crevices in which invertebrates live. This increase in complexity, together with the nutrition provided by the waste products of mussel filter-feeding , increases the density and diversity of benthic invertebrate communities. Introduced species may spread rapidly and unpredictably. When bottlenecks and founder effects cause
450-543: A long taproot , or to live on previously uninhabited soil types. For example, barbed goatgrass was introduced to California on serpentine soils , which have low water-retention, low nutrient levels, a high magnesium / calcium ratio, and possible heavy metal toxicity. Plant populations on these soils tend to show low density, but goatgrass can form dense stands on these soils and crowd out native species. Invasive species might alter their environment by releasing chemical compounds, modifying abiotic factors, or affecting
525-403: A major role in exotic species introduction. High demand for the valuable Chinese mitten crab is one explanation for the possible intentional release of the species in foreign waters. Maritime trade has rapidly affected the way marine organisms are transported within the ocean; new means of species transport include hull fouling and ballast water transport. In fact, Molnar et al. 2008 documented
600-674: A new nomenclature system based on biogeography rather than on taxa . By discarding taxonomy, human health , and economic factors, this model focused only on ecological factors. The model evaluated individual populations rather than entire species. It classified each population based on its success in that environment. This model applied equally to indigenous and to introduced species, and did not automatically categorize successful introductions as harmful. The USDA's National Invasive Species Information Center defines invasive species very narrowly. According to Executive Order 13112, " 'Invasive species' means an alien species whose introduction does or
675-407: A number of years and then experience an explosion in population, a phenomenon known as "the lag effect". Hybrids resulting from invasive species interbreeding with native species can incorporate their genotypes into the gene pool over time through introgression . Similarly, in some instances a small invading population can threaten much larger native populations. For example, Spartina alterniflora
750-554: A particular pest species could pollute soil and surface water. Encroachment of humans into previously remote ecosystems has exposed exotic diseases such as HIV to the wider population. Introduced birds (e.g. pigeons ), rodents and insects (e.g. mosquito , flea , louse and tsetse fly pests) can serve as vectors and reservoirs of human afflictions. Throughout recorded history, epidemics of human diseases, such as malaria , yellow fever , typhus , and bubonic plague , spread via these vectors. A recent example of an introduced disease
825-418: A result of either a numerical or fitness advantage of the introduced species. Genetic pollution occurs either through introduction or through habitat modification, where previously isolated species are brought into contact with the new genotypes. Invading species have been shown to adapt to their new environments in a remarkably short amount of time. The population size of invading species may remain small for
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#1733104953230900-769: Is a significant food resource in southern Africa . Another saturniid used as food is the cavorting emperor ( Usta terpsichore ). In one country alone, Congo , more than 30 species of moth larvae are harvested. Some are sold not only in the local village markets, but are shipped by the ton from one country to another. Nocturnal insectivores often feed on moths; these include some bats , some species of owls and other species of birds . Moths also are eaten by some species of lizards , amphibians , cats , dogs , rodents , and some bears . Moth larvae are vulnerable to being parasitized by Ichneumonidae . Baculoviruses are parasite double-stranded DNA insect viruses that are used mostly as biological control agents. They are members of
975-536: Is considered more effective, but there are concerns over its effects on human health. Despite being commonly thought to be undertaken by all moths, only the larvae of several moth species eat animal fibres, creating holes in articles of clothing, in particular those made of wool. Most species do not eat fabrics, and some moth adults do not even eat at all. Some, like the Luna , Polyphemus , Atlas , Promethea , cecropia , and other large moths do not have mouth parts. This
1050-400: Is currently unknown. One hypothesis is called celestial or transverse orientation. By maintaining a constant angular relationship to a bright celestial light, such as the moon, they can fly in a straight line. Celestial objects are so far away that, even after travelling great distances, the change in angle between the moth and the light source is negligible; further, the moon will always be in
1125-456: Is highly fire-adapted. It spreads rapidly after burning, and increases the frequency and intensity of fires by providing large amounts of dry detritus during the fire season in western North America. Where it is widespread, it has altered the local fire regimen so much that native plants cannot survive the frequent fires, allowing it to become dominant in its introduced range. Ecological facilitation occurs where one species physically modifies
1200-623: Is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health." Typically, an introduced species must survive at low population densities before it becomes invasive in a new location. At low population densities, it can be difficult for the introduced species to reproduce and maintain itself in a new location, so a species might reach a location multiple times before it becomes established. Repeated patterns of human movement, such as ships sailing to and from ports or cars driving up and down highways, offer repeated opportunities for establishment (a high propagule pressure ). In ecosystems ,
1275-600: Is normal, and preserves constellations of genes and genotypes. An example of this is the interbreeding of migrating coyotes with the red wolf , in areas of eastern North Carolina where the red wolf was reintroduced, reducing red wolf numbers. In South Africa's Cape Town region, analysis demonstrated that the restoration of priority source water sub-catchments through the removal of thirsty alien plant invasions (such as Australian acacias, pines and eucalyptus, and Australian black wattle) would generate expected annual water gains of 50 billion liters within 5 years compared to
1350-581: Is now considered invasive in over 60 countries, and has invaded large geographies in several countries prompting aggressive federal efforts at attempting to control it. Primary geomorphological effects of invasive plants are bioconstruction and bioprotection. For example, kudzu ( Pueraria montana ), a vine native to Asia, was widely introduced in the southeastern United States in the early 20th century to control soil erosion . The primary geomorphological effects of invasive animals are bioturbation , bioerosion , and bioconstruction. For example, invasions of
1425-479: Is one of the most problematic invasive plant species in eastern North American forests, where it is highly invasive of the understory , reducing the growth rate of tree seedlings and threatening to modify the forest's tree composition. Native species can be threatened with extinction through the process of genetic pollution . Genetic pollution is unintentional hybridization and introgression , which leads to homogenization or replacement of local genotypes as
1500-570: Is poorly defined and often very subjective. Invasive species may be plants, animals, fungi, and microbes; some include native species that have invaded human habitats such as farms and landscapes. Some broaden the term to include indigenous or "native" species that have colonized natural areas. Some sources name Homo sapiens as an invasive species, but broad appreciation of human learning capacity and their behavioral potential and plasticity may argue against any such fixed categorization. The definition of "native" can be controversial. For example,
1575-470: Is possible because they live off the food stores from when they were a caterpillar, and only live a short time as an adult (roughly a week for some species). Many species of adult moths do however eat: for instance, many will drink nectar . Items of fabric infested by clothes moth larvae may be treated by freezing them for several days at a temperature below −8 °C (18 °F). Some moths are farmed for their economic value. The most notable of these
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#17331049532301650-413: Is the silkworm , the larva of the domesticated moth Bombyx mori . It is farmed for the silk with which it builds its cocoon . As of 2002 , the silk industry produces more than 130 million kilograms of raw silk, worth about 250 million U.S. dollars , each year. Not all silk is produced by Bombyx mori . There are several species of Saturniidae that also are farmed for their silk, such as
1725-510: Is the main cause of introductions – other than for polar regions . Diseases may be vectored by invasive insects: the Asian citrus psyllid carries the bacterial disease citrus greening . The arrival of invasive propagules to a new site is a function of the site's invasibility. Many invasive species, once they are dominant in the area, become essential to the ecosystem of that area, and their removal could be harmful. Economics plays
1800-587: Is the spread of the West Nile virus , which killed humans, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The introduced Chinese mitten crabs are carriers of Asian lung fluke . Waterborne disease agents, such as cholera bacteria ( Vibrio cholerae ), and causative agents of harmful algal blooms are often transported via ballast water. Globally, invasive species management and control are substantial economic burdens, with expenditures reaching approximately $ 1.4 trillion annually. The economic impact of invasive alien species alone
1875-477: Is used in modern classifications. Moths make up the vast majority of the order. There are approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of which have yet to be described. Most species of moth are nocturnal , although there are also crepuscular and diurnal species. While the butterflies form a monophyletic group, the moths, comprising the rest of the Lepidoptera, do not. Many attempts have been made to group
1950-486: The Age of Discovery , and accelerating again with international trade . Notably invasive plant species include the kudzu vine, giant hogweed , Japanese knotweed , and yellow starthistle . Notably invasive animals include European rabbits , domestic cats , and carp . Invasive species are the subset of established non-native alien or naturalized species that are a threat to native species and biodiversity. The term "invasive"
2025-585: The Baculoviridae , a family that is restricted to insects. Most baculovirus isolates have been obtained from insects, in particular from Lepidoptera. There is evidence that ultrasound in the range emitted by bats causes flying moths to make evasive maneuvers. Ultrasonic frequencies trigger a reflex action in the noctuid moth that causes it to drop a few centimeters or inches in its flight to evade attack, and tiger moths can emit clicks to foil bats' echolocation. The fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis infects
2100-523: The Cretaceous period. The modern English word moth comes from Old English moððe ( cf. Northumbrian mohðe ) from Common Germanic (compare Old Norse motti , Dutch mot , and German Motte all meaning 'moth'). Its origins are possibly related to the Old English maða meaning ' maggot ' or from the root of midge which until the 16th century was used mostly to indicate
2175-516: The Great Lakes via ballast water. These outcompete native organisms for oxygen and food, and can be transported in the small puddle left in a supposedly empty ballast tank. Regulations attempt to mitigate such risks, not always successfully. Climate change is causing an increase in ocean temperature . This in turn will cause range shifts in organisms, which could harm the environment as new species interactions occur. For example, organisms in
2250-591: The economic returns from invasive species are far less than the costs they impose. In the Great Lakes region the sea lamprey is an invasive species. In its original habitat, it had co-evolved as a parasite that did not kill its host. However, in the Great Lakes Region, it acts as a predator and can consume up to 40 pounds of fish in its 12–18 month feeding period. Sea lampreys prey on all types of large fish such as lake trout and salmon . The sea lampreys' destructive effects on large fish negatively affect
2325-844: The extinction of species, loss in biodiversity, and loss of ecosystem services , costs from impacts of invasive species would drastically increase. It is often argued that the key to invasive species management is early detection and rapid response. However, early response only helps when the invasive species is not frequently reintroduced into the managed area, and the cost of response is affordable. Weeds reduce yield in agriculture . Many weeds are accidental introductions that accompany imports of commercial seeds and plants. Introduced weeds in pastures compete with native forage plants, threaten young cattle (e.g., leafy spurge, Euphorbia virgata ) or are unpalatable because of thorns and spines (e.g., yellow starthistle ). Forage loss from invasive weeds on pastures amounts to nearly US$ 1 billion in
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2400-562: The larva , usually in reference to devouring clothes. Moth larvae, or caterpillars , make cocoons from which they emerge as fully grown moths with wings. Some moth caterpillars dig holes in the ground, where they live until they are ready to turn into adult moths. Moths evolved long before butterflies; moth fossils have been found that may be 190 million years old. Both types of Lepidoptera are thought to have co-evolved with flowering plants , mainly because most modern species, both as adults and larvae, feed on flowering plants. One of
2475-744: The spatial scale of invasion studies. Small-scale studies tended to show a negative relationship between diversity and invasion, while large-scale studies tended to show the reverse, perhaps a side-effect of invasives' ability to capitalize on increased resource availability and weaker species interactions that are more common when larger samples are considered. However, this pattern does not seem to hold true for invasive vertebrates. Island ecosystems may be more prone to invasion because their species face few strong competitors and predators, and because their distance from colonizing species populations makes them more likely to have "open" niches. For example, native bird populations on Guam have been decimated by
2550-445: The 20th century, invasive species have become serious economic, social, and environmental threats worldwide. Invasion of long-established ecosystems by organisms is a natural phenomenon, but human-facilitated introductions have greatly increased the rate, scale, and geographic range of invasion. For millennia, humans have served as both accidental and deliberate dispersal agents, beginning with their earliest migrations , accelerating in
2625-467: The 958 endangered species under the Endangered Species Act are at risk. The unintentional introduction of forest pest species and plant pathogens can change forest ecology and damage the timber industry . Overall, forest ecosystems in the U.S. are widely invaded by exotic pests, plants, and pathogens. The Asian long-horned beetle ( Anoplophora glabripennis ) was first introduced into
2700-518: The California sea otter ( Enhydra lutris ). Invasive species appear to have specific traits or specific combinations of traits that allow them to outcompete native species . In some cases, the competition is about rates of growth and reproduction. In other cases, species interact with each other more directly. One study found that 86% of invasive species could be identified from such traits alone. Another study found that invasive species often had only
2775-493: The Chinese mitten crab ( Eriocheir sinensis ) have resulted in higher bioturbation and bioerosion rates. A native species can become harmful and effectively invasive to its native environment after human alterations to its food web . This has been the case with the purple sea urchin ( Strongylocentrotus purpuratus ), which has decimated kelp forests along the northern California coast due to overharvesting of its natural predator,
2850-517: The U.S. A decline in pollinator services and loss of fruit production has been caused by honey bees infected by the invasive varroa mite . Introduced rats ( Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus ) have become serious pests on farms, destroying stored grains. The introduction of leaf miner flies ( Agromyzidae ), including the American serpentine leaf miner ( Liriomyza trifolii ), to California has caused losses in California's floriculture industry, as
2925-544: The U.S. in 1996, and was expected to infect and damage millions of acres of hardwood trees. As of 2005 thirty million dollars had been spent in attempts to eradicate this pest and protect millions of trees in the affected regions. The woolly adelgid has inflicted damage on old-growth spruce, fir and hemlock forests and damages the Christmas tree industry. Chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease are plant pathogens with serious impacts. Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata ,
3000-563: The ailanthus moth ( Samia cynthia group of species), the Chinese oak silkmoth ( Antheraea pernyi ), the Assam silkmoth ( Antheraea assamensis ), and the Japanese silk moth ( Antheraea yamamai ). The larvae of many species are used as food , particularly in Africa, where they are an important source of nutrition. The mopane worm, the caterpillar of Gonimbrasia belina , from the family Saturniidae,
3075-591: The alteration in ecosystem functionality (due to homogenization of biota communities), invasive species have resulted in negative effects on human well-being, which includes reduced resource availability, unrestrained spread of human diseases, recreational and educational activities, and tourism. Alien species have caused diseases including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), monkey pox , and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Invasive species and accompanying control efforts can have long term public health implications. For instance, pesticides applied to treat
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3150-607: The ancestors of Equus ferus (modern horses) evolved in North America and radiated to Eurasia before becoming extinct in North America. Upon being introduced to North America in 1493 by Spanish conquistadors , it is debatable whether the feral horses were native or exotic to the continent of their evolutionary ancestors. While invasive species can be studied within many subfields of biology, most research on invasive organisms has been in ecology and biogeography . Much of
3225-478: The availability of resources determines the impact of additional species on the ecosystem. Stable ecosystems have a resource equilibrium, which can be changed fundamentally by the arrival of invasive species. When changes such as a forest fire occur, normal ecological succession favors native grasses and forbs . An introduced species that can spread faster than natives can outcompete native species for food, squeezing them out. Nitrogen and phosphorus are often
3300-467: The behaviour of herbivores , impacting on other species. Some, like Kalanchoe daigremontana , produce allelopathic compounds that inhibit competitors. Others like Stapelia gigantea facilitate the growth of seedlings of other species in arid environments by providing appropriate microclimates and preventing herbivores from eating seedlings. Changes in fire regimens are another form of facilitation. Bromus tectorum , originally from Eurasia,
3375-507: The business-as-usual scenario (which is important as Cape Town experiences significant water scarcity ). This is the equivalent to one-sixth of the city's current supply needs. These annual gains will double within 30 years. The catchment restoration is significantly more cost-effective then other water augmentation solutions (1/10 the unit cost of alternative options). A water fund has been established, and these exotic species are being eradicated. Invasive species can affect human health. With
3450-511: The densities of native forage plants, declining the habitat-use by wild herbivores and threatening the long-term sustenance of dependent carnivores, including the tiger . Invasive species can change the functions of ecosystems. For example, invasive plants can alter the fire regime (cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum ), nutrient cycling (smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora ), and hydrology ( Tamarix ) in native ecosystems. Invasive species that are closely related to rare native species have
3525-440: The earliest known species that is thought to be an ancestor of moths is Archaeolepis mane . Its fossil fragments show scaled wings that are similar to caddisflies in their veining. Some moths, particularly their caterpillars , can be major agricultural pests in many parts of the world. Examples include corn borers and bollworms . The caterpillar of the spongy moth ( Lymantria dispar ) causes severe damage to forests in
3600-469: The exception of the family Hedylidae ) have small balls or clubs at the end of their antennae. Moth antennae are usually feathery with no ball on the end. The divisions are named by this principle: "club-antennae" (Rhopalocera) or "varied-antennae" (Heterocera). Lepidoptera first evolved during the Carboniferous period, but only evolved their characteristic proboscis alongside the rise of angiosperms in
3675-436: The expense to monitor, control, manage, and research invasive weed species is approximately AU$ 116.4 million per year, with costs directed solely to central and local government. While in some cases, invasive species may offer economic benefits, such as the potential for commercial forestry from invasive trees, these benefits are generally overshadowed by the substantial costs associated with biological invasions. In most cases,
3750-728: The families Erebidae and Sphingidae , may be the key pollinators for some flowering plants in the Himalayan ecosystem. The roles of moths as pollinators have been studied less frequently than those of diurnal pollinators, but recent studies have established that moths are important, but often overlooked, nocturnal pollinators of a wide range of plants. Some researchers say it is likely that many plants thought to be dependent on bees for pollination also rely on moths, which have historically been less observed because they pollinate mainly at night. Moths frequently appear to circle artificial lights. The reason for this behavior (positive phototaxis )
3825-515: The family Tineidae are commonly regarded as pests because their larvae eat fabric such as clothes and blankets made from natural proteinaceous fibers such as wool or silk . They are less likely to eat mixed materials containing some artificial fibers. There are some reports that they may be repelled by the scent of wood from juniper and cedar , by lavender , or by other natural oils; however, many consider this unlikely to prevent infestation. Naphthalene (the chemical used in mothballs )
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#17331049532303900-563: The field lacks any official designation but is commonly referred to as "invasion ecology" or more generally "invasion biology". This lack of standard terminology has arisen due to the interdisciplinary nature of the field which borrows terms from disciplines such as agriculture , zoology , and pathology , as well as due to studies being performed in isolation. In an attempt to avoid the ambiguous, subjective, and pejorative vocabulary that so often accompanies discussion of invasive species even in scientific papers, Colautti and MacIsaac proposed
3975-629: The fishing industry and have helped cause the collapse of the population of some species. Economic costs from invasive species can be separated into direct costs through production loss in agriculture and forestry, and management costs. Estimated damage and control costs of invasive species in the U.S. amount to more than $ 138 billion annually. Economic losses can occur through loss of recreational and tourism revenues. When economic costs of invasions are calculated as production loss and management costs, they are low because they do not consider environmental damage; if monetary values were assigned to
4050-446: The governments of California and New Zealand have announced more stringent control for vessel hull fouling within their respective jurisdictions. Another vector of non-native aquatic species is ballast water taken up at sea and released in port by transoceanic vessels. Some 10,000 species are transported via ballast water each day. Many of these are harmful. For example, freshwater zebra mussels from Eurasia most likely reached
4125-489: The individual to its environment. Pre-adaptations and evolution after the introduction reinforce the success of the introduced species. The enemy release hypothesis states that evolution leads to ecological balance in every ecosystem. No single species can occupy a majority of an ecosystem due to the presences of competitors, predators, and diseases. Introduced species moved to a novel habitat can become invasive, with rapid population growth, when these controls do not exist in
4200-619: The introductions of the amethyst gem clam and the European green crab . The gem clam was introduced into California's Bodega Harbor from the US East Coast a century ago. On its own, it never displaced native clams ( Nutricola spp.). In the mid-1990s, the introduction of the European green crab resulted in an increase of the amethyst gem at the expense of the native clams. In India, multiple invasive plants have invaded 66% of natural areas, reducing
4275-538: The invaded habitats and bioregions adversely, causing ecological, environmental, or economic damage. The European Union defines "Invasive Alien Species" as those that are outside their natural distribution area, and that threaten biological diversity . Biotic invasion is one of the five top drivers for global biodiversity loss , and is increasing because of tourism and globalization . This may be particularly true in inadequately regulated fresh water systems, though quarantines and ballast water rules have improved
4350-646: The invasive brown tree snake . In New Zealand the first invasive species were the dogs and rats brought by Polynesian settlers around 1300. These and other introductions devastated endemic New Zealand species. The colonization of Madagascar brought similar harm to its ecosystems. Logging has caused harm directly by destroying habitat, and has allowed non-native species such as prickly pear and silver wattle to invade. The water hyacinth forms dense mats on water surfaces, limiting light penetration and hence harming aquatic organisms, and causing substantial management costs. The shrub lantana ( Lantana camara )
4425-641: The larvae of many different species of moths. Moths, like butterflies, bees and other more popularly recognized pollinating insects, serve an essential role as pollinators for many flowering plants, including species that bees do not visit. Nocturnal moths fly from flower to flower to feed on nectar during the night much as their diurnal relatives do during the day. A study conducted in the UK found moths dusted with pollen from 47 different plant species, including seven species largely ignored by bees. Some studies indicate that certain species of moths, such as those belonging to
4500-679: The light source. Studies have found that light pollution caused by increasing use of artificial lights has either led to a severe decline in moth population in some parts of the world or has severely disrupted nocturnal pollination. [REDACTED] Quotations related to Moths at Wikiquote Invasive species An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions , causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native species that become harmful to their native environment after human alterations to its food web . Since
4575-443: The limiting factors in these situations. Every species occupies an ecological niche in its native ecosystem; some species fill large and varied roles, while others are highly specialized. Invading species may occupy unused niches, or create new ones. For example, edge effects describe what happens when part of an ecosystem is disturbed, as when land is cleared for agriculture . The boundary between remaining undisturbed habitat and
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#17331049532304650-630: The new ecosystem. Non-native species have many vectors , but most are associated with human activity. Natural range extensions are common, but humans often carry specimens faster and over greater distances than natural forces. An early human vector occurred when prehistoric humans introduced the Pacific rat ( Rattus exulans ) to Polynesia. Vectors include plants or seeds imported for horticulture . The pet trade moves animals across borders, where they can escape and become invasive. Organisms stow away on transport vehicles. Incidental human assisted transfer
4725-523: The new environment may host fewer able competitors, allowing the invader to proliferate. Ecosystems used to their fullest capacity by native species can be modeled as zero-sum systems, in which any gain for the invader is a loss for the native. However, such unilateral competitive superiority (and extinction of native species with increased populations of the invader) is not the rule. An invasive species might be able to use resources previously unavailable to native species, such as deep water accessed by
4800-528: The newly cleared land itself forms a distinct habitat, creating new winners and losers and possibly hosting species that would not thrive outside the boundary habitat. In 1958, Charles S. Elton claimed that ecosystems with higher species diversity were less subject to invasive species because fewer niches remained unoccupied. Other ecologists later pointed to highly diverse, but heavily invaded ecosystems, arguing that ecosystems with high species diversity were more susceptible to invasion. This debate hinged on
4875-487: The northeastern United States, where it is an invasive species . In temperate climates, the codling moth causes extensive damage, especially to fruit farms. In tropical and subtropical climates, the diamondback moth ( Plutella xylostella ) is perhaps the most serious pest of brassicaceous crops. Also in sub-Saharan Africa , the African sugarcane borer is a major pest of sugarcane, maize , and sorghum . Several moths in
4950-476: The pathways of hundreds of marine invasive species and found that shipping was the dominant mechanism for the transfer of invasive species. Many marine organisms can attach themselves to vessel hulls. Such organisms are easily transported from one body of water to another, and are a significant risk factor for a biological invasion event. Controlling for vessel hull fouling is voluntary and there are no regulations currently in place to manage hull fouling. However,
5025-464: The potential to hybridize with the native species. Harmful effects of hybridization have led to a decline and even extinction of native species. For example, hybridization with introduced cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora , threatens the existence of California cordgrass ( Spartina foliosa ) in San Francisco Bay . Invasive species cause competition for native species and because of this 400 of
5100-412: The situation. Invasive species may drive local native species to extinction via competitive exclusion, niche displacement, or hybridisation with related native species. Therefore, besides their economic ramifications, alien invasions may result in extensive changes in the structure, composition and global distribution of the biota at sites of introduction, leading ultimately to the homogenisation of
5175-551: The spread of biological invasions, mitigate further impacts, and restore affected ecosystems. For example, the damage caused by 79 invasive species between 1906 and 1991 in the United States has been estimated at US$ 120 billion. Similarly, in China , invasive species have been reported to reduce the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.36% per year. The management of biological invasions can be costly. In Australia , for instance,
5250-427: The superfamilies of the Lepidoptera into natural groups, most of which fail because one of the two groups is not monophyletic: Microlepidoptera and Macrolepidoptera , Heterocera and Rhopalocera , Jugatae and Frenatae, Monotrysia , and Ditrysia . Although the rules for distinguishing moths from butterflies are not well established, one very good guiding principle is that butterflies have thin antennae and (with
5325-441: The upper part of the visual field, or on the horizon. When a moth encounters a much closer artificial light and uses it for navigation, the angle changes noticeably after only a short distance, in addition to being often below the horizon. The moth instinctively attempts to correct by turning toward the light, thereby causing airborne moths to come plummeting downward, and resulting in a spiral flight path that gets closer and closer to
5400-502: The work has been influenced by Charles Elton's 1958 book The Ecology of Invasion by Animals and Plants which creates a generalized picture of biological invasions. Studies remained sparse until the 1990s. This research, largely field observational studies, has disproportionately been concerned with terrestrial plants . The rapid growth of the field has driven a need to standardize the language used to describe invasive species and events. Despite this, little standard terminology exists;
5475-405: The world's fauna and flora and the loss of biodiversity . It is difficult to unequivocally attribute extinctions to a species invasion, though there is for example strong evidence that the extinction of about 90 amphibian species was caused by the chytrid fungus spread by international trade. Multiple successive introductions of different non-native species can worsen the total effect, as with
5550-416: Was estimated to exceed $ 423 billion annually as of 2019. This cost has exhibited a significant increase, quadrupling every decade since 1970, underscoring the escalating financial implications of these biological invasions. Invasive species contribute to ecological degradation , altering ecosystem functionality and reducing the services ecosystems provide. This necessitates additional expenditures to control
5625-462: Was introduced in the San Francisco Bay and hybridized with native Spartina foliosa . The higher pollen count and male fitness of the invading species resulted in introgression that threatened the native populations due to lower pollen counts and lower viability of the native species. Reduction in fitness is not always apparent from morphological observations alone. Some degree of gene flow
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