Harmonia axyridis is an invasive species native to Asia. It is a generalized predator, highly voracious, capable of dispersing and surviving in a wide range of habitats and climates. This species represents a threat to biodiversity and generates harmful effects to crops and people worldwide.
In Argentina, H. axyridis was introduced in Mendoza at the end of the 90s as an agent of biological control of aphids and a few years later it was detected in the provinces of Buenos Aires (2001) and Santa Fe (2004). We have recently detected its presence in Patagonia Argentina, which could represent the first phase of its invasion in this region. In this project, we propose to study the expansive process of H. axyridis, to evaluate the consequences that this expansion could have in the preexisting communities, and to plan strategies to stop its spread.