Invasive alien species in Switzerland - Schweizer ...

An inventory of alien species and their threat to biodiversity and economy in Switzerland FOEN 2006 84
erlands in 1983. Since then, it has spread all around the world (CABI, 2001). In Switzerland,
F. intonsa is particularly associated with strawberry crops (Linder et al.,
1998).
The gladiolus thrips, Thrips simplex, originates from South Africa and was introduced
in many regions with gladiolus corms. It reproduces only on gladiolus corms and
leaves but adults are found on many other plants (CABI, 2001). In Switzerland, it does
not survive outdoors.
4.11 Psocoptera
Psocoptera, or psocids, are rather poorly known insects. Most species live in woodlands,
but some are domestic, i.e. they inhabit houses, warehouses, etc., feeding on
organic matter. The domestic species can become a nuisance, although they rarely
cause economic damage. Partial European and Swiss lists of Psocoptera exist, but the
origin of the species is often unclear. Lienhard (1994) lists 29 species that are totally,
essentially or occasionally domestic in Switzerland. Most of them are not, or very
rarely, found in the field, suggesting that they are not indigenous. We have included in
our list the species that Lienhard (1994) mentions as exclusively or essentially domestic
in Switzerland, keeping in mind that some of them might be indigenous but poorly
known in their natural habitat.
Three species of the genus Dorypteryx are most likely of exotic origin. Their spread in
Europe is illustrated in Lienhard (1994). D. domestica, described from Zimbabwe in
1958, was first found in Switzerland in 1973. From there, it has spread rapidly to most
European countries where it has become one of the most frequent domestic species. D.
longipennis, a species of unknown origin, was first found in Luxembourg in 1988. It
reached Switzerland in 1992 and is now spreading very rapidly. D. pallida is an older
introduction. It was first described from North America, and found in Germany in
1890. Its spread seems to be slower than that of the other two species. Other species
that are most probably exotic include Liposcelis mendax, Ectopsocus pumilis and E.
richardsi, which have been found associated with an importation of dry mushrooms
from Asia. Whether these rare species are established in Switzerland is unclear. Other
species are found outdoors in the Mediterranean regions but only indoors in Switzerland,
e.g. Trogium pulsatorium and Ectopsocus vachoni.
4.12 Ectoparasites
Ectoparasitic insects of vertebrates include mainly Siphonaptera (fleas – on birds and
mammals), Anoplura (sucking lice – on mammals) and Mallophaga (biting lice – on
birds and mammals). Undoubtedly, several of the ectoparasites present in Switzerland
are allochtonous, having arrived in the region with their hosts. However, these insects
are rather poorly studied, particularly in Switzerland, and their origin is often unclear.
In their work on the Siphonaptera of France and the western Mediterranean region,
Advisor:
Yves Gonseth, Centre Suisse de
Cartographie de la Faune,
Neuchâtel