Monitoring and control of invasive alien insect species in a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot

Abstract

The introduction, establishment, and spread of invasive alien species (IAS) pose a major threat to global biodiversity. Human activities, environmental and climate change, and intensification of international trade and transport networks have accelerated biological invasions, which show no signs of saturation (Seebens 2017; Seebens 2018). Sardinia is a key biodiversity hotspot in the central Mediterranean, characterized by high levels of endemism and ecological heterogeneity, which increase ecosystem vulnerability to biological invasions (Fois et al. 2020;Bazzato et al. 2021). Its strategic location and intense traffic further enhance the risk of IAS introduction and establishment. In this context, cross-border cooperation is essential for prevention, early detection, and management. Within this framework, the INTERREG Italy–France Maritime Project ALIEM Vigil - Measures for Limiting, Managing, and Monitoring the Introduction of Invasive Alien Species in Mediterranean Transport Zones promotes coordinated actions across Mediterranean transport zones. Project activities included mapping and characterization of entry points; capitalization of methodologies developed in previous ALIEM projects; expansion of surveillance and early warning systems; stakeholder training and awareness; and testing of innovative control and eradication strategies. This contribution presents the main outcomes achieved by the Sardinian research unit. Key outcomes comprise modelling the potential distribution of Vespa crabro in Sardinia under current and future climate scenarios (Bazzato et al. 2025), and the development of a global dataset of Stator limbatus occurrence records (Cocco et al. 2022), integrated with ecological and biogeographic information on host plants. Furthermore, the surveillance network enabled the prompt detection and elimination of the first Vespa velutina nest in Sardinia. No new introductions of alien xylophagous pests were detected at monitored entry points, and Cydalima perspectalis was recorded at very low population densities in the only Italian natural population of Buxus balearica , with minimal associated damage. These results are shared with project partners across the cooperation area and highlight the importance of cross-border collaboration to improve integrated approaches for IAS management, building on the legacy of previous ALIEM initiatives.