Potential geographic distributions of two parthenogenetic weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) associated with citrus in Argentina and Brazil

DEL RÍO, M. GUADALUPE; MONTEMAYOR, SARA ITZEL; GUZMÁN, NOELIA; CONFALONIERI, VIVIANA A.; ANALÍA A. LANTERI

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC

Lugar: Nueva York; Año: 2019 vol. 102 p. 459 - 463

0015-4040

Parapantomorus fluctuosus (Boheman) and Pantomorus cinerosus (Boheman) (both Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are parthenogenetic broad-nosedweevils native to South America, and they damage citrus in Argentina and Brazil. The objectives of this contribution are to apply ecological niche modellingto compare the suitable areas of occurrence of these species with those of other parthenogenetic Naupactini distributed in similar areas, andto analyze their potential range in relation to the distribution of citrus groves, mainly in Argentina and Brazil. Pantomorus cinerosus and P. fluctuosuswere predicted to be distributed in tropical and subtropical South America, Mexico, Central America, Cuba, southeastern USA (Florida), southernAfrica, Madagascar, eastern Australia, and southern China. However, neither has colonized other countries outside the native range. The potentialdistribution of P. fluctuosus is broader than that of P. cinerosus, and the predicted areas of both species are partially coincident with main productionareas of citrus in Argentina, Brazil, and throughout the world. Although ecological niche modelling is an effective tool for predicting the potentialspread and colonization of weevils in distant cultivated areas, weevil establishment is most likely the result of multiple factors.