The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), has emerged as a harmful invasive insect pest in North America and Europe in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively. Native to ...eastern Asia, this highly polyphagous pest (>120 different host plants) is spreading rapidly worldwide, notably through human activities. The increasing global importance of the pest suggests that more coordinated actions are needed to slow its spread and mitigate negative effects in invaded areas. Prevention of large-scale outbreaks will require accurate identification and effective mitigation tools to be rapidly developed and widely implemented. In this short review, we update the current distribution of H. halys, discuss potential geographic range expansion based on passive and active dispersal and provide insight on the economic, environmental and social impact associated with H. halys.
Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a vector‐borne plant bacterium native to the Americas, which causes severe diseases to agricultural crops, ornamental plants and forest trees. The bacterium is becoming a ...source of worldwide health plant concern and disease outbreaks associated with Xf have occurred outside of its native range (in Europe, Asia and the Middle East). Several studies have estimated risks associated with Xf outbreaks in invaded regions under current climate conditions, but future climate change has been seldom addressed. In the present study, we calibrated correlative models of bioclimatic species distribution to forecast the potential range and severity of two economically important Xf‐related diseases (Pierce's disease and the bacterial leaf scorch of shade trees) by the period 2040–2060. Models predict that conditions could become highly favourable for Pierce's disease in economically important wine‐producing regions of the world, highlighting the need to design control strategies. Similarly, models suggest that risk of bacterial leaf scorch of shade trees might increase in temperate regions where it is still apparently absent. However, we note that substantial uncertainty in predictions arises from high levels of correlation among climatic variables in the calibration data set. The inherent lack of knowledge concerning whether the distribution of Xf‐related diseases is at climatic equilibrium or not in Europe may also influence our predictions. The models provide valuable information to identify regions where increased surveillance efforts should be made and where control strategies are required.
The study predicts a worldwide increase of the range of two Xylella fastidiosa‐related plant diseases (Pierce's disease of grapevine and bacterial leaf scorch of trees) caused by global change by 2050.
Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855), the Brown Marmorated StinkBug (BMSB) is a highly successful invasive species native to eastern Asia that managed to spread into North America and Europe in recent ...decades. We set up a citizen science survey to monitor BMSB expansion in France in 2012 and analyzed the data it yielded between 2012 and 2019 to examine the local expansion of the insect. These data were gathered with occurrences form various sources (GBIF, literature) to calibrate a species niche model and assess potential current BMSB range. We evaluated the potential changes to the BMSB range due to climate change by projecting the model according to 6 global circulation models (GCM) and the shared socio-economic pathways SSP245 in two time periods 2021-2040 and 2041-2060. Citizen science allowed to track BMSB expansion in France and provided information about its phenology and its habitat preferences. The model highlighted the potential for further range expansion in Europe and illustrated the impact of climate change. These results could help managing the current BMSB invasion and the framework of this survey could contribute to a better preparedness of phytosanitary authorities either for the BMSB or other invasive pests.
The North American oak lace bug feeds on leaves of ‘white oaks” in its native range. In Europe, it was first discovered in northern Italy in 2000. In recent years, it has subsequently spread rapidly ...and population outbreaks have been observed in several European countries. In the present study, we summarize the steps of its expansion.
To predict its potential host range, we checked 48 oak species in 20 sentinel gardens in seven countries between 2013 and 2018.
In total, 27 oak species were recorded as suitable hosts; 13 of them are globally new ones, 23 out of the 29 in section Quercus (∼ white oaks, an intrageneric taxonomic unit within genus Quercus), including Asian oaks, native to Japan, Korea and China, and four out of five in section Cerris (another intrageneric unit of the same genus), were accepted as hosts. None of the species in section Lobatae (red oaks) or in the Ilex group was accepted.
Host records were also collected in forest stands of 10 countries. We found 11 oak species that were infested. Outbreak populations were most commonly found on Quercus robur, Quercus frainetto, Quercus petraea and Quercus cerris, comprising widespread and outstandingly important oaks species in Europe.
Based on our findings, we conclude that suitable hosts for oak lace bug are present in most of Europe and Asia. This means that a lack of hosts will likely not restrict further range expansion.
Philaenus spumarius (Ps) is considered the main insect vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) in Europe. As such, it is a key actor of the Xf pathosystem on which surveillance and management ...strategies could be implemented. Although research effort has increased in the past years, the ecological factors shaping Ps abundance and distribution across landscapes are still poorly known in most regions of Europe. We selected 64 plots of 500m
in Corsican semi-natural habitats in which we sampled nymphs and adults of Ps during three years. While local or surrounding vegetation structure (low or high scrubland) had little effect on Ps abundance, we highlighted a positive relationship between Ps abundance and the density of Cistus monspeliensis in the plots. We also found larger populations of Ps in cooler and moister plots. The pattern of host association highlighted here is unique, which calls for more studies on the ecology of Ps in Europe, to help designing surveillance and management strategy for Xf.
Two Asian longhorn beetles,
Anoplophora glabripennis
and
Anoplophora chinensis,
are among the most serious alien invasive species attacking forest and urban trees, both in North America and Europe. ...Major efforts have been put into preventing further entry and establishment of the two species as well as promoting their successful eradication. Here, we review these efforts, their progress and outcome, and scientific advancements in monitoring and control methods. The combined international activities and harmonizing legislative changes in detection and eradication methods have proven worthwhile, with more than 45% of eradication programmes successful in the last 12 years. Some countries were able to completely eradicate all populations and others managed to reduce the area affected. Although the costs of the eradication programmes can be very high, the benefits outweigh inaction. Attempts to eradicate
A. chinensis
have been more challenging in comparison with those targeting
A. glabripennis
. For both species, efforts are hampered by the ongoing arrival of new beetles, both from their native regions in Asia and from other invaded regions via bridgehead effects. The methods used for eradication have not changed much during the last decade, and host removal is still the method most commonly used. On the other hand, detection methods have diversified during the last decade with advances in semiochemical research and use of detection dogs. The next decade will determine if eradications continue to be successful, particularly in the case of
A. chinensis
, which has been targeted in some countries for containment instead of eradication.
We describe the process by which the quarantine whitefly,
(Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae), was detected in France. The initial observation was made by a volunteer who reported a picture of an adult in the ...Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel (INPN Espèces), a citizen science resource developed by l'Office Français de la Biodiversité and the French Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. The specimen was suspected to be
from this picture by one of the expert entomologists in charge of the Hemiptera group validation. Once the species was identified, it was mounted on a slide and the information was officially passed on to the ministry in charge of agriculture via a communication channel set up in advance for this type of situation. The ministry then triggered the regulatory actions planned in the event of the suspected detection of quarantine organisms. Sampling was quickly carried out and the specimens collected on this occasion were formally identified as belonging to the species
. This led to the formalization of an outbreak in France. This sequence of decisions took just two months from the first observation to the implementation of a management plan. This case presents how incursion preparedness contributes to a rapid response. Furthermore, this case exemplifies how citizen science can contribute to the early detection of invasive species and highlights the importance of informing both the general public and professionals about major environmental issues.
•The emerald ash borer agrilus planipennis is an invasive insect native to Asia.•We assessed its potential distribution in europe.•Most of europe is suitable according to current climate ...conditions.•The situation will remain broadly unchanged for the period 2041–2060.
Agrilus planipennis, the emerald ash borer, is a species native to East Asia that was accidentally introduced to North America and Eastern Europe. In North America, it is responsible for tremendous damage. In Europe, its range has quickly expanded from the east where it was introduced in 2003, and it threatens the species of the genus Fraxinus. We developed an ensemble modelling approach to model the potential range of A. planipennis according to current climate conditions and four scenarios of climate change: SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, SSP3–7.0 SSP5–8.5 in the period 2041–2060. We used three algorithms; random forest, boosted regression trees and Bayesian additive regression trees with occurrence data from both native and invaded ranges. The results indicate that most of the European continent is climatically suitable for A. planipennis. In Western Europe, the northern limit of the range is located in the British Isles and southern Scandinavia. The projection of the models according to estimates of future climate conditions shows that climate suitability would mostly remain unchanged in 2041–2060. During that period, the potential range is expected to slightly shrink in the south, around the Mediterranean Basin, and expand at its northern limit. Our results confirm that A. planipennis is, and will remain, a major threat to forest and ornamental ash tree health across Europe.
Biological control of agricultural pests relies on knowledge of agroecosystem functionality, particularly when affected by the use of mass‐produced biological agents. Incorporating pre‐ and/or ...post‐release information such as genetic diversity and structure on these agents using molecular‐based approaches could advance our knowledge of how they perform in agroecosystems. We evaluated the population genetics of Macrolophus pygmaeus, the most widely used predatory mirid against many arthropod pests of greenhouse crops in the Mediterranean region, using the mitochondrial Cytb sequence and microsatellite data, and population genetics and phylogeny approaches. We investigated commercially mass‐produced insects (i.e., commercial insects either mass‐reared in the laboratory for many generations, or purchased by farmers and released in the greenhouses) and “wild” insects (i.e., that occur naturally outside or are collected in nature for release in the greenhouses). The mirids were mainly collected in agroecosystems in which solanaceous plants are grown in northern Spain, southern France and Greece. Both molecular markers and approaches distinguished 2 genetically differentiated populations. The less genetically diverse population, hereafter named the “commercial” strain included all individuals from laboratory mass‐rearings and most releases of commercially bred individuals. The most genetically diverse population mainly comprised individuals originating from noncultivated environments, or from releases of “wild” individuals. Rare examples of hybridization between M. pygmaeus from the 2 populations were observed and asymmetric gene flow was revealed. These findings provide new insights into what happens to M. pygmaeus released in the agroecosystems we studied, and show that it is possible to monitor some commercial strains.
(Stål, 1855), the brown marmorated stinkbug (BMSB) is a highly successful invasive species, native to eastern Asia. It has managed to spread into North America and Europe in recent decades, causing ...severe damage to various crops. BMSB has been detected in Europe in 2004 and has since expanded in more than 20 countries from Sweden to Greece and Spain to Turkey, the South European Territory of Russia (Krasnodar region) and Abkhazia. In 2012, we set up a citizen science survey to monitor BMSB expansion in France.
The present crowdsourcing survey was initiated in 2012 and provided a large number of occurrence points of BMSB. These data allowed to track the expansion of the species in France from 2012 to 2019 and brought information about its phenology and distribution in various habitats. The dataset comprises both valid and invalid sightings, thereby allowing us to examine changes in the quality of citizen reports during the course of the survey. Despite a large proportion of misidentifications, the survey provided a large number of valid occurrences. Furthermore, valuable information on hemipterans of Pentatomidae and Coreidae families entering habitations were also gathered. The dataset also illustrates that, although designed for a large public, the Agiir application was mostly used by urban dwellers with very few sightings stemming from professionals of agricultural sectors.
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