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Abstract
The majority of Coccinellidae are beneficial predators and they have received considerable
research attention because of their potential as biological control agents. Indeed
the role of coccinellids as predators of pest insects has been a major factor in the
movement of coccinellids between countries. The commercial production of coccinellids
by biological control companies and local producers led to a rapid increase in distribution
thoughout the 1990s. To date, 13 alien coccinellid species have been documented in
Europe; 11 of these are alien to Europe (two are alien to Great Britain and Sweden
but native within Europe). The distribution of alien coccinellids in Europe mirrors
the biogeographical distribution and patterns of introduction. Some species have dispersed
widely; Harmonia axyridis has spread rapidly from countries where it was deliberately
introduced to many others across Europe. The ecological and economic impacts of alien
coccinellids are not well documented. In this chapter we provide an overview of the
temporal and spatial patterns of alien coccinellids in Europe.