Vanden Abeele, S.,  Kratz, F.,  Segers, B.,  Smitz, N.,  Vanderheyden, A.,  Jordaens, K. & Hendrickx, F. 2026. ‘Identification services and origin tracing of species of policy concern, including invasive alien species’. 14th International Conference on Biological Invasions. Book of abstracts. Brussels.

Conference abstract

Invasive alien species (IAS) can cause a wide range of socio-economic and ecological problems, underscoring the need for their early detection, monitoring, and management. Reliable species identification is essential for this purpose, using morphological and/or DNA-based approaches. SpeciesID.be is a Belgian centre of excellence that provides such identification services for a variety of species of policy concern, including IAS. Jointly operated by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and the Royal Museum for Central Africa, speciesID.be has access to extensive reference collections, expert taxonomists, and comprehensive research infrastructure. The centre comprises three complementary scientific units: BopCo (identification of policy-relevant organisms), ENFORCE (identification of timber and wood products), and JEMU (research and development of molecular methods). BopCo has applied various DNA-based methods to verify the identity of exotic mosquitoes, primarily Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) and Aedes japonicus (Asian bush mosquito), collected at multiple points of entry in Belgium. These efforts will be expanded in the coming years as part of the the JAPORISK project (2026–2030). In collaboration with Sciensano, BopCo will conduct a population genetic analysis of Ae. japonicus in Belgium and neighbouring countries, and investigate the species’ introduction routes and dispersal patterns in support of control efforts. BopCo was also involved in documenting the first occurrence of Stenochrus portoricensis in Belgium, recorded in Meise Botanic Garden. Subsequently, three other potentially exotic arachnid species were observed in Meise and Ghent Botanic Garden. Although their systematic placement remains under investigation using morphology and phylogenetics, they were tentatively assigned to the genera Zomus, Theotima, and Speocera. These findings emphasize that glasshouse networks can act both as reservoirs of hidden exotic arachnid diversity and as pathways facilitating biological invasions. In addition, BopCo contributes to the study of the introduction pathways and dispersal dynamics of invasive Tephritidae, including Bactrocera dorsalis in Belgium and Dacus frontalis in Africa and Europe. SpeciesID.be continuously seeks partnerships with research institutes and government agencies to deliver accurate species identifications within various policy-relevant research contexts, including biological invasions.