Because Elysia species feed on some invasive introduced species, such as Caulerpa prolifera, some researchers have been looking into the possibility of using them as a form of biological control.

Krug, P.J., Vendetti, J.E., Rodriguez, A.K., Retana, J.N., Hirano, Y.M., Trowbridge, C.D. (2013) Integrative species delimitation in photosynthetic sea slugs reveals twenty candidate species in three nominal taxa studied for drug discovery, plastid symbiosis or biological control. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 69 (3), pp. 1101-1119. Abstract [BC] [NH] [NP] [To]

Burfeind, D.D., Tibbetts, I.R., Udy, J.W. (2009) Grazing rates of Elysia tomentosa on native and introduced Caulerpa taxifolia. Hydrobiologia, 632 (1), pp. 355-358. Abstract [BC] [F] [NH] [To]

Thibaut, T., Meinesz, A., Amade, P., Charrier, S., De Angelis, K., Ierardi, S., Mangialajo, L., Melnick, J., Vidal, V. (2001) Elysia subornata (Mollusca) a potential control agent of the alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Chlorophyta) in the Mediterranean Sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 81(3), pp. 497-504. Abstract [BC] [F] [NH] [Su]

Trowbridge, C.D., Todd, C.D. (2001) Host-plant change in marine specialist herbivores: Ascoglossan sea slugs on introduced macroalgae. Ecological Monographs, 71 (2), pp. 219-243. Abstract [BC] [NH] [Vi]

Coquillard, P., Thibaut, T., Hill, D.R.C., Gueugnot, J., Mazel, C., Coquillard, Y. (2000) Simulation of the mollusc Ascoglossa Elysia subornata population dynamics: Application to the potential biocontrol of Caulerpa taxifolia growth in the Mediterranean Sea. Ecological Modelling, 135 (1), pp. 1-16. Abstract [BC] [Su]