A mealybug (Delottococcus aberiae De Lotto) of southern African origin has recently been noticed in Spain where it causes severe distortions on young citrus fruit. Since the local natural enemies are ineffective in controlling the mealybug, and farmers rely on chemicals to protect their fruit.
Many invasive species provide both benefits and costs to society and the environment. These benefits include aesthetic values, but also provide resources such as timber, fuelwood, fodder and food.
In a rapidly changing world, the ability to prevent invasions by intercepting foreign organisms or by implementing quarantine measures is critical. Few studies however investigate the effectiveness of such measures in preventing new or ongoing invasions.
Next generation sequencing is set to revolutionise the way in which we approach many fields of genetics, including population genetics. Prof Ben Evans (visiting C·I·B fellow and Associate Professor at McMaster University, Canada) recently presented a hands-on workshop for those wishing to gain a basic understanding of reduced representation genome sequencing.
Birds are important role-players in the spreading of seeds from the invasive tree Rooikrans (Acacia cyclops). The birds are especially attracted to the bright red fleshy stalks that surround the seeds.
