Dr John Sloggett, from Maastricht Science Programme, Maastricht University, The Netherlands, will present the Department of Biololgical Sciences seminar with a talk entitled, "Harmonia axyridis: insights into an invasive species".

The ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis is a notorious invasive species, having spread from its native range in Asia to Europe, America and other parts of the world, including South Africa. It is considered a threat to native ladybirds in the areas it has colonized. My own work with the species has extended over a decade, in the US and Europe, and in this presentation I will discuss some of the insights I have gained in this time into the relationship between H. axyridis and native species. I will particularly focus on the role that ladybird defensive chemistry plays in mediating the interactions between the invader and the indigenous ladybirds it has encountered in its new range.