Model-based prediction of potential distribution of the invasive insect pest, spotted lanternfly Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), by using CLIMEX

Abstract Background Invasive alien insects threaten agriculture, biodiversity, and human livelihoods globally. Unfortunately, insect invasiveness still cannot be reliably predicted. Empirical policies of insect pest quarantine and inspection are mainly designed against species that are already problematic. Results We conducted a comparative genomic analysis of 37 invasive insect species and six non-invasive insect species, showing that the gene families associated with defense, protein and nucleic acid metabolism, chemosensory function, and transcriptional regulation were significantly expanded in invasive insects, suggesting that enhanced abilities in self-protection, nutrition exploitation, and locating food or mates are intrinsic features conferring invasiveness in insects. By using these intrinsic genome features, we proposed an invasiveness index and estimated the invasiveness of 99 other insect species with genome data, classifying them as highly, moderately, or minimally invasive. Insects possessing all these aforementioned enhanced abilities are predicted to be highly invasive, and vice versa. Next, a logistic-regression classifier was trained to predict insect invasiveness, achieving 93.2% accuracy. Conclusions We present evidence that several traits may confer invasiveness in insects and these features can be used to predict insect invasiveness accurately, and we quantify insect invasiveness with an invasiveness index.

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Potential Distributions of the Invasive Barnacle Scale Ceroplastes cirripediformis (Hemiptera: Coccidae) Under Climate Change and Implications for Its Management

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/toaa245 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Fang Wang ◽

Duo Wang ◽

Ge Guo ◽

Meixia Zhang ◽

Jiayi Lang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Potential Distribution ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Scientific Basis ◽

Future Climate ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Climate Scenarios ◽

Global Risk ◽

Mean Temperature

Abstract Ceroplastes cirripediformis Comstock is one of the most destructive invasive pests that have caused various negative impacts to agricultural, ornamental, and greenhouse plants. Since it is time- and labor-consuming to control C. cirripediformis, habitat evaluation of this pest may be the most cost-effective method for predicting its dispersal and avoiding its outbreaks. Here, we evaluated the effects of climatic variables on distribution patterns of C. cirripediformis and produced a global risk map for its outbreak under current and future climate scenarios using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model. Our results showed that mean temperature of driest quarter (Bio 9), precipitation of coldest quarter (Bio 19), precipitation of warmest quarter (Bio 18), and mean temperature of wettest quarter (Bio 8) were the main factors influencing the current modeled distribution of C. cirripediformis, respectively, contributing 41.9, 29.4, 18.8, and 7.9%. The models predicted that, globally, potential distribution of C. cirripediformis would be across most zoogeographical regions under both current and future climate scenarios. Moreover, in the future, both the total potential distribution region and its area of highly suitable habitat are expected to expand slightly in all representative concentration pathway scenarios. The information generated from this study will contribute to better identify the impacts of climate change upon C. cirripediformis’s potential distribution while also providing a scientific basis for forecasting insect pest spread and outbreaks. Furthermore, this study serves an early warning for the regions of potential distribution, predicted as highly suitable habitats for this pest, which could promote its prevention and control.

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Invasive Insects: Management Methods Explored

Journal of Insect Science ◽

10.1093/jisesa/iez085 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gemma M McLaughlin ◽

Peter K Dearden

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Future Research ◽

Agricultural Crops ◽

New Techniques ◽

Invasive Insects ◽

Invasive Insect ◽

Insect Pest Control

Abstract Invasive insect species can act as a plague across the globe, capable of vast expansion and rapid, proliferate reproduction. The spread of pathogens of serious diseases such as malaria and Zika virus and damages to agricultural crops number some of the afflictions invasive insects provide to humans alone. Additionally, an escape from predators can fail to keep invasive insects in check, providing potential threats such as extra resource competition to native species when insects invade. A variety of methods are employed to combat these invasive species, each with their own varying levels of success. Here, we explore the more traditional methods of invasive insect pest control, such as pesticides and biological control. In lieu of several unintended consequences resulting from such practices, we suggest some should be abandoned. We evaluate the potential of new techniques, in particular, those with a genetic component, regarding the costs, benefits and possible consequences of implementing them. And finally, we consider which techniques should be the focus of future research, if we truly wish to manage or even eradicate invasive insects in their introduced lands.

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