Potential geographic distributions of two parthenogenetic weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) associated with citrus in Argentina and Brazil
Abstract
Parapantomorus fluctuosus (Boheman) and Pantomorus cinerosus (Boheman) (both Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are parthenogenetic broad-nosed weevils native to South America, and they damage citrus in Argentina and Brazil. The objectives of this contribution are to apply ecological niche modelling to compare the suitable areas of occurrence of these species with those of other parthenogenetic Naupactini distributed in similar areas, and to analyze their potential range in relation to the distribution of citrus groves, mainly in Argentina and Brazil. Pantomorus cinerosus and P. fluctuosus were predicted to be distributed in tropical and subtropical South America, Mexico, Central America, Cuba, southeastern USA (Florida), southern Africa, Madagascar, eastern Australia, and southern China. However, neither has colonized other countries outside the native range. The potential distribution of P. fluctuosus is broader than that of P. cinerosus, and the predicted areas of both species are partially coincident with main production areas of citrus in Argentina, Brazil, and throughout the world. Although ecological niche modelling is an effective tool for predicting the potential spread and colonization of weevils in distant cultivated areas, weevil establishment is most likely the result of multiple factors.
Resumen
Parapantomorus fluctuosus (Boheman) y Pantomorus cinerosus (Boheman) (ambos Coleoptera: Curculionidae) son gorgojos partenogenéticos de rostro corto nativos de América del Sur, que causan daños en cítricos, en Argentina y Brasil. Los objetivos de esta contribución son realizar un análisis de modelado de nicho ecológico de estas especies, comparar las áreas óptimas modeladas con las de otras especies partenogenéticas de Naupactini de similar distribución, y analizar sus distribuciones potenciales con respecto a las zonas productoras de cítricos principalmente de Argentina y Brasil. De acuerdo con nuestros resultados, Parapantomorus fluctuosus y Pantomorus cinerosus presentan condiciones ambientales favorables en Sudamerica tropical y subtropical, América Central, México, Cuba, sureste de Estados Unidos (Florida), sur de África, Madagascar, este de Australia, y sur de China; sin embargo ninguna de ellas ha colonizado otros países fuera de su rango natural. La distribución potencial de P. fluctuosus es mas amplia que la de P. cinerosus y las áreas predichas para ambas especies son parcialmente coincidentes con las regiones de cultivo de cítricos en Argentina, Brasil y a lo largo del mundo. El modelado de nichos ecológicos es una herramienta de utilidad para estimar la posible dispersión y colonización a distancia de plagas de gorgojos, sin embargo, su establecimiento en dichas áreas sea probablemente el resultado de múltiples factores.
Key Words: invasive weevils; ecological niche modelling; Naupactini; agricultural pests; orange trees
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