Invasive alien insects represent a clear but variable threat to biodiversity

Abstract

Invasive alien insects as a driver of biodiversity change are an important yet understudied component of the general threat of biological invasions. The environmental impacts of invasive alien insects are varied and widespread, with evidence to suggest that an insect species global maximum impact is likely to increase in severity as it increases its non-native distribution. Two potential explanations are that large geographic distributions include environmental heterogeneity and increase resource availability, or that there are intrinsic factors of widely-spread species that also facilitate greater impacts. Determining which explanation is more likely, and developing a more comprehensive and general understanding of the environmental impacts of invasive alien species, can be assisted by addressing the information shortfalls highlighted in this research.