Invasions by insects in Mozambique – a threat to agricultural production and food security

Biological invasions or invasive alien species (IAS) are those plants and animals which are introduced, establish and spread outside of their home range, causing economic, social and environmental harm. The term ‘‘biological invasion’’ highlights the negative consequences of population migration represented by the impact on biodiversity, human economy and/or health. Biological invasions are emerging as one of the major threats to sustainable development, impacting agriculture, biodiversity, ecosystem services and human health, and increasing human vulnerability. In the recent years, the rate of introduction of invasive species in Mozambique is increasing. The most recent introductions include the papaya mealybug, Paracoccus margitatus and the melon fly, Zeagodacus cucurbitae (both detected in 2013) posing a serious threat to food security and income for the small and large scale farmers. Because most introductions are due to human activities, reinforcing national phytosanitary legislation, especially inspection services may reduce the movement of insect species from their native range to new habitats, reducing biological invasions. It is therefore essential to develop efficient national phytosanitary legislation to prevent or minimize adverse impacts of invasive plants. This paper reviews the threat of biological invasion by insect pests in Mozambique.