Effects of an invading coccinellid on native coccinellids in an agricultural landscape

Seven native coccinellid species inhabited alfalfa, corn, and small grain fields in eastern South Dakota prior to invasion and establishment of Coccinella septempunctata L. Six species occurred in all crops, however, Adalia bipunctata (L.) occurred only in corn. The structure of native coccinellid communities differed significantly for years prior to compared with years after establishment of C. septempunctata in fields of the three agricultural crops. Differences in community structure were accounted for mainly by reduced abundance of two species, C. transversoguttata richardsoni Brown and Adalia bipunctata (L.). Annual abundance of C. transversoguttata richardsoni averaged 20-32 times lower during post-invasion years than in years prior to invasion, depending on crop; while annual abundance of A. bipunctata averaged 20 times lower in corn after invasion. Addition of C. septempunctata to the community did not result in a significant increase in total abundance of coccinellids in the crops. Coccinellid abundance in agricultural crops may be limited by the total abundance of prey or by the availability of other requisites in the landscape as a whole. Therefore, introduction of a new species, while resulting in reductions in native species populations, may not increase total coccinellid abundance, and may therefore have no net effect on biological control of aphid pests.