Invasive Exotic Species Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Invasive Exotic Species - Essay Example The scientific study of insects has its beginning as early as the sixteenth century. Entomologists classify insects based on their taxonomy into various groups known as apiology, coleopterology, dipterology, heteropterology, lepidoptrelogy, myrmecology, orthopetrology, trichoptrology (Triplehorn, 2005) Each entomologist spends his life in the study of any one of these groups. Insect identification is very difficult as the attributes distinguishing them are often invisible or unclear. The Exotic Species (Invasive species) Exotic species are defined as those organisms that are not specific or intrinsic to a particular area. (Naylor, 2001) Their origin is a different place than their place of living. Scientific study and results prove that some introduced species are a threat to the ecosystem in which they get transferred. More scientifically, Introduced species are â€Å"species that have become able to survive and reproduce outside the habitats they evolved or spread naturally† (Naylor, 2001). Species are introduced in a habitat usually while they are transported from one region to another. These introductions can be accidental or intentional. Intentional inductions by humans is done thinking that a certain group of species is some how beneficial to human beings. Invasive species are one sub group of introduced species that have an ill effect on their foreign ecosystem. They behave as pests (G. K. Meffe. 1998). These immigrants breed expand and develop at an exponential pace causing great damag e to the eco relations. Its effect is simply defined in three terms namely arrive, survive and thrive. There are many clauses for a species to become invasive. It has to find a suitable vector to transfer it from its habitat to another one. The climatic conditions of the new habitat must match closely with its previous habitat. It should be capable to survive in that habitat and also outperform the existing native species and has to start spreading throughout like a plague. (Townsend CR. 1991) Basically invasive species have a negative impact on the new ecosystem. Some of the characteristics for an invasive species are the mode of reproduction, Asexual as well as sexual reproduction, the ability to withstand a wide range of climatic conditions and the reproductive output. (Townsend CR. 1991) One of these species that is responsible for defoliation of trees is the Gypsy Moth. The Gypsy Moth The scientific name of gypsy moth is Lymantria dispar. It is commonly called as gypsy moth to symbolize its mobility, that is, the pace at which it covers an area and also European moth. It is of the order Lepidoptera, class insecta and phylum Arthropod. This moth has its origin basically from Europe, Asia and North Africa. (ent.msu.edu, 1997) The Gypsy Moth This moth has been introduced in the North America and East Coast in the year 1869. It was an intentional introduction of this moth. A French scientist named Lepold Trovelot who lived in Massachusetts has introduced this moth. He was experimenting different moths and silk worms for having better quality silk production (Forbush, 1896). He with the intension of breeding silk worms with other moths introduced the gypsy moth in North America. His experiment failed. Some of the moths brought by him