Test of colonisation scenarios reveals complex invasion history of the red tomato spider mite Tetranychus evansi.

ABSTRACT: The spider mite Tetranychus evansi is an emerging pest of solanaceous crops worldwide. Like many other emerging pests, its small size, confusing taxonomy, complex history of associations with humans, and propensity to start new populations from small inocula, make the study of its invasion biology difficult. Here, we use recent developments in Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) and variation in multi-locus genetic markers to reconstruct the complex historical demography of this cryptic invasive pest. By distinguishing among multiple pathways and timing of introductions, we find evidence for the "bridgehead effect", in which one invasion serves as source for subsequent invasions. Tetranychus evansi populations in Europe and Africa resulted from at least three independent introductions f

SUBMITTER: Boubou A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3335100 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature