| Title: | Population Distribution and Range Expansion of the Invasive Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Louisiana |
| Author(s): | Wilson BE; Beuzelin JM; Reagan TE; |
| Address: | "Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 404 Life Science Bldg., Baton Rouge, LA 70803 (bwils26@lsu.edu; treagan@agcenter.lsu.edu). Dean Lee Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 8105 Tom Bowman Dr., Alexandria, LA 71302 ( jbeuzelin@agcenter.lsu.edu ). Current address: Everglades Research and Education Center, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 3200 E. Palm Beach Rd., Belle Glade, FL 33430" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1938-2936 (Electronic) 0046-225X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an invasive pest that was first introduced into southern Texas in 1980 and has been expanding its range eastward along the United States Gulf Coast. The pest attacks rice (Oryza sativa L.), sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), corn (Zea mays L.), and other graminaceous crops, and its establishment in Louisiana is expected to have severe economic impacts on crop production. Range expansion and population distribution of E. loftini were monitored with a network of 77 pheromone traps throughout southwestern Louisiana from 2013 to 2015. Eoreuma loftini was ubiquitous throughout the study region, with male moths captured in every habitat sampled. Spatial analysis revealed the population is characterized by high and low density clusters, with the greatest trap captures occurring in southeastern Calcasieu Parish and southern Jefferson Davis Parish. Trap captures in more northern regions of the study were lower than in southern parishes. Trap captures in areas where the pest has been established for >3 yr were greatest in rice habitats. The weighted mean population center moved eastward at a rate of approximately 11 km per year. Human-aided movement of E. loftini was probably not involved in the eastward expansion documented during this study. Seasonal population peaks were detected in March-April, July-August, and October-November. This study indicates this species is continuing its spread eastward along the United States Gulf Coast and will likely become established throughout Louisiana within the next 20 yr" |
| Keywords: | *Animal Distribution Animals Ecosystem *Introduced Species Louisiana Male Moths/*physiology Population Dynamics Seasons Eoreuma loftini invasive species landscape ecology pest monitoring pheromone trap; |
| Notes: | "MedlineWilson, Blake E Beuzelin, Julien M Reagan, Thomas E eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2017/03/24 Environ Entomol. 2017 Apr 1; 46(2):175-182. doi: 10.1093/ee/nvx036" |
