THE IMPACT OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES ON NATIVE INSECT SPECIES

Invasive plants, introduced either accidentally or intentionally to new ecosystems, can outcompete native vegetation, alter habitat structures, and influence the food web. Native insects, which often have co-evolved with indigenous plants, are particularly vulnerable to such changes. This paper explores the complex relationship between invasive plant species and native insect populations, focusing on habitat loss, food availability, and the cascading ecological consequences that result from such interactions.