[APWG] Fw: Podcast: Native Florida Moth Keeping Invasive Species in Check; an interview with Dr. Sourakov

[De Angelis, Patricia]

At first I thought this must be a nonnative moth - but it's not. Surprise! And it's quite pretty. See info and link to podcast below. I found more about this from the Florida Native Plant Society: http://fnpsblog.blogspot.com/2019/07/national-moth-week-ornate-bella-moth.html

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In Defense of Plants presents:
Episode 251 - A Florida Moth Keeping Invasive Species in Check<http://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2020/2/9/ep-251-a-florida-moth-keeping-invasive-species-in-check>
February 9, 2020

The movement of species around the globe is akin to opening Pandora's Box. Once an invasive species becomes established, it can be very difficult, if not impossible to get it under control. Every once in a while, however, nature provides us with a solution.

In this episode we learn about how the incredibly beautiful ornate bella moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) is keeping some invasive peas at bay in Florida. The larvae of the ornate bella moths feed only on rattlebox plants in the genus Crotalaria. Not only do the caterpillars need rattleboxes for food, they also utilize its toxins for communication and defense. Join me and my guest Dr. Andrei Sourakov as we discuss how bella moths have shifted their diets to include invasive rattlebox plants and how this host shift is keeping their invasion at bay. This is a fascinating discussion about the ecological consequences of invasive plant introductions.

Hear the podcast and find links to Dr. Sourakov's work:
http://www.indefenseofplants.com/podcast/2020/2/9/ep-251-a-florida-moth-keeping-invasive-species-in-check

Brought to you by: In Defense of Plants
http://www.indefenseofplants.com/about

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