Research
| Title： | Counterfactual Simulations Evaluate the Efficacy of Manual Removal in Controlling Invasive Lanternflies in Taiwan |
|---|---|
| First author： | Lin, Ya-Li; Liao, Jhih-Rong; Chiu, Ming-Chih; Shiao, Shiuh-Feng; Ko, Chiun-Cheng |
| Journal： | JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY |
| Years： | 2025 |
| DOI： | 10.1111/jen.13456 |
| Abstract： | Biological invasions pose a severe threat to ecosystems worldwide, causing ecological and economic damage. Manual removal is a selected control method with minimal impact on non-target species, but long-term effectiveness under varying environmental conditions is unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a 3-year manual removal campaign to evaluate its impact on the invasive lanternfly [Pyrops candelaria (Linnaeus); Hemiptera: Fulgoridae] in northern Taiwan. Using generalised additive models, we analysed population dynamics and the influence of environmental variables. Our findings demonstrated that manual removal significantly suppressed lanternfly populations when removal rates exceeded approximately 55%; while removal rates of 60% or higher maintained populations at consistently low levels. Counterfactual simulations indicated that without manual removal, population sizes would have exceeded 400 individuals at the study sites within the 1st year. However, complete eradication was not achieved, likely due to residual individuals or reinfestation. Our findings highlight the necessity for sustained removal efforts, adequate resource allocation, long-term monitoring and integrated pest management strategies to achieve sustainable population control. |
