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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379250
Research Project: Biology, Ecology, Genetics, and Genomics of Introduced Species for Biological Control of Invasive and Other Insect Pests

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Retrospective analysis of factors affecting the distribution of an invasive wood-boring insect using native range data: the importance of host plants

Author
item DANG, YING-QIAO - Chinese Academy Of Forestry
item ZHANG, YAN-LONG - Chinese Academy Of Forestry
item WANG, XIAO-YI - Chinese Academy Of Forestry
item XIN, BEI - Chinese Academy Of Forestry
item QUINN, NICOLE - University Of Massachusetts
item Duan, Jian

Submitted to: Journal of Pest Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2020
Publication Date: 1/2/2021
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7394283
Citation: Dang, Y., Zhang, Y., Wang, X., Xin, B., Quinn, N.F., Duan, J.J. 2021. Retrospective analysis of factors affecting the distribution of an invasive wood-boring insect using native range data: the importance of host plants. Journal of Pest Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-020-01308-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-020-01308-5

Interpretive Summary: The emerald ash borer (EAB), native to Northeast Asia, is the most destructive invasive ash tree pest in North America. Predicting where it will spread next based on climatic conditions (such as temperature) and presence of susceptible host plants (food) can help regulators and pest management practitioners to assess its potential invasion risks and develop appropriate measures to combat this invasive beetle. ARS scientists and cooperators from Chinese Academy of Forestry incorporated both climate and pest’s food plant distribution in a species distribution model (MaxEnt) and improved the accuracy of predicted areas of EAB invasion in both North America and Asia.

Technical Abstract: Climate is a critical factor considered in prediction of potential distributions of species. However, the distribution of susceptible host plants is another important constraint in retrospective analyses of invasive insect pests, particularly for wood-boring insects. We modeled the geographic distribution of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), and its susceptible host trees using MaxEnt. We compared the differences between its predicted and actual distribution in its original and invaded ranges (China, the United States and Canada as study cases), respectively, as well as its susceptible host plants. Results from our models indicate that: 1) in addition to climatic factors, the presence of susceptible host tree species plays a major role in delineating the pest’s distribution; 2) it is more accurate to project the potential distribution ranges of EAB by considering the suitable areas of its susceptible host plants; and 3) there is a high risk for EAB to expand its current distribution areas in both its native and invasive ranges. The improved predictions of invasive insect pests by considering the presence of susceptible host plants could help the risk management and thus prevent biological invasions more effectively.