Comment on "Invasive harlequin ladybird carries biological weapons against native competitors".
editorial · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 24052292.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/science.1241827.
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Abstract
Vilcinskas et al. (Reports, 17 May 2013, p. 862) proposed that infectious microsporidia of the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis act against intraguild predators, rather than ladybird alkaloid defenses. However, as both microsporidia and the harmonine defense alkaloid were administered to predators by microinjection rather than into the gut, such a conclusion is premature. Alkaloids also provide defense when predation occurs, whereas microsporidia act much later.
Medical subject headings
- Coleoptera
- Food Chain
- Introduced Species
- Nosema