Abstract
This study investigates the potential ecological niche and distribution of the Nearctic bow-legged fir aphid, Cinara curvipes, an alien and potentially invasive species, across Europe. Utilising climate modelling based on climatic preferences in its native range, we assess the suitability of European climates for facilitating the spread of this aphid. Coupled with the presence of suitable host plants, mostly firs (Abies spp.) or cedars (Cedrus spp.), there is potential for the bow-legged fir aphid to extend its range across most European regions, with projections suggesting potential expansion into Asia Minor. Furthermore, future climate scenarios predict a northward expansion of suitable habitats for this aphid species, confirmed by its detection in Denmark and Norway. Our research reveals that C. curvipes displays notably higher fecundity compared to its Cinara genus counterparts. Specifically, wingless viviparous females of this species achieve peak fecundity at lower temperatures (10–15°C), explaining their spring mass appearances. At 25°C, nymphs fail to moult or reach maturity, leading to summer population declines. Unique survival mechanisms, including the production of numerous winged morphs under overcrowded conditions, enable rapid dispersal facilitated by human-mediated transport, notably through the “Christmas trees” trade. Its high reproductive output allows the species to quickly colonise new habitats and exploit available resources, contributing to its potential invasiveness. We emphasise the critical need for collaborative engagement among researchers, stakeholders, and the public to bolster citizen science initiatives and reinforce environmental monitoring networks, all within the framework of an early detection and rapid response (EDRR) process. This collaborative approach is vital for effective environmental management and mitigating potential invasive threats.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | European Zoological Journal |
| Vol/bind | 92 |
| Udgave nummer | 1 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 258-279 |
| Antal sider | 22 |
| ISSN | 1125-0003 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2025 |
Bibliografisk note
Funding Information:The Norwegian part of this project was financed by The Research Council of Norway, project no. [61528 NINA] basic funding. We thank Christian N\u00F8rg\u00E5rd Nielsen and Niels Jacobsen for sharing details and photos of their observations of C. curvipes in Denmark. Further, we thank Eva Johanne Westlund (Eventyrbrua Steinerbarnehage) for recording the colony of C. curvipes from Norway and sharing additional information on the observation and locality. Thanks to Anders Often for joining the search for C. curvipes on Abies stands both in Oslo and \u00C5s municipalities, and for joining in investigating imported \u201CChristmas trees\u201D in November 2022. We thank Joanna Malinowska, Ma\u0142gorzata Czy\u017Cewska, Katarzyna Nowik and Robert Rozwa\u0142ka for sharing details and photos of their observations of C. curvipes in Poland, fir plantations\u2019s \u201CPerfect Green\u201D and Choinki.pl owners for valuable comments on C. curvipes presence and \u201Chttps://www.instagram.com/zielone_pogotowie/ \u201D for sharing a video of mass occurrence of C. curvipes in the private garden in the vicinity of Lipno. We thank Kamila Malik (University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland) for collecting aphid location data from North America.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.