Insects (2023) 14 (1 - 46)

Nicolò Di Sora, Roberto Mannu, Luca Rossini, Mario Contarini, Diego Gallego and Stefano Speranza (2023)
Using species distribution models (SDMs) to estimate the suitability of European Mediterranean non-native area for the establishment of Toumeyella parvicornis (Hemiptera: Coccidae)
Insects 14 (1 - 46)
Abstract: The pine tortoise scale, Toumeyella parvicornis, is an insect native to the Nearctic region that is able to infest several Pinus species. It can cause weakening, defoliation and, at high infestation levels, tree death. After its first report in Italy in 2015, the pest spread rapidly over the surrounding areas and was reported in France in 2021. Due to the threat that this pest poses to pine trees, the suitability of European Mediterranean basin areas for T. parvicornis at different spatial scales was estimated by constructing species distribution models (SDMs) using bioclimatic variables. Our results showed that several coastal areas of the Mediterranean basin area could be suitable for T. parvicornis. Based on performance assessment, all the SDMs tested provided a good representation of the suitability of European Mediterranean non-native area for T. parvicornis at different spatial scales. In particular, most of the areas with a medium or high level of suitability corresponded to the geographical range of distribution of different Pinus spp. in Europe. Predicting the suitability of European Mediterranean areas for T. parvicornis provides a fundamental tool for early detection and management of the spread of this pest in Europe.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Mario Contarini, Diego Gallego, Stefano Speranza

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Toumeyella parvicornis	Pine (Pinus)	France
	Toumeyella parvicornis	Pine (Pinus)	Italy