Comment on "Invasive harlequin ladybird carries biological weapons against native competitors".
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.
Maastricht Science Programme, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands. j.sloggett@maastrichtuniversity.nl
John J
JJ
Sloggett
D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology*; D020387:Food Chain; D058865:Introduced Species; D016818:Nosema / Q000502:physiology*