Bug Note Episode 22: Invasive Species

Sometimes bugs end up in places they don’t belong — invading ecosystems they’ve never been part of before. On this episode of Bug Note, host Daniel Potter chats with Christy Bills, NHMU's Invertebrate Collections Manager, about the impact of invasive species and the ways citizen scientists can help researchers track insect migration. Listen to the podcast here or scroll down to watch the video version.

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When a species gets introduced to a new environment, either purposefully or accidentally, they can cause problems. This can be true for all kinds of plant and animal species. In a novel environment without the natural limits (pathogens and predators) of their native ecosystems, so-called invasive species can disrupt food webs and unbalance their new habitats by quickly achieving unchecked population sizes. This is often true for insects that are introduced to new areas... consider the emerald ash borer (EAB), for example. 

These beetles are invasive pests in North America, originally found only in north-eastern Asia. In their native environment, they are not considered pests because although they bore into (and thus, damage and kill) trees, their populations are kept in check by the predators and diseases found there.  However, in North America, where the diseases and predators that have evolved to target them are not found, the EAB populations have quickly grown and spread across the continent, and the ash trees they love to eat are destroyed wherever the EAB becomes established. 

Ash trees were commonly planted in urban areas, where the tree canopies created lovely shade and welcoming aesthetics. As the EAB invaded new regions of North America, they killed ash trees in large numbers, creating headaches for affected cities. Removing (and eventually replacing) dead trees costs cities a lot of money, and leaving the dead trees in place isn’t an option as they could cause damage by falling onto people or property. 

Not all introduced species earn the title of invasive, because not all introduced species cause the kind of widespread harm as caused by the EAB. The European mantis, which is a large species most locals are familiar with, was introduced to the United States. It’s now the most common mantis species in the country, and while they are general predators, eating pretty much anything that catches their fancy (sometimes including ‘beneficial’ pollinators), they don’t cause the kind of quantifiable damage that the emerald ash borer does. 

Regardless of whether or not an introduced species is invasive, researchers want to track the presence and impact of insects in your area. Keeping an eye out for unfamiliar bugs and making iNaturalist observations of both the common and uncommon bugs you see helps researchers track migration patterns. By simply taking a photo on the iNaturalist app, you can help entomologists around the world in their research! 

Bug Note on YouTube 

Check out the extended conversation on YouTube. Be sure to like and subscribe to receive notice of upcoming episodes. 

About Bug Note

Bug Note is hosted by Daniel Potter, a science writer who's also worked in the world of public radio for many years, and who loves fresh air and storytime. He's joined by Dr. Jason Cryan, NHMU’s Sarah B. George Executive Director and trained entomologist, and Christy Bills, NHMU's Invertebrate Collections Manager, as well as other bug-loving guests. Video production by Blank Space. The podcast is created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of Utah, with the expertise and support of its scientific, philanthropic, marketing, and education teams. Special thanks to NHMU friend and insect enthusiast Ted Fridirici.

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