The potential distribution of invading Helicoverpa armigera in North America: is it just a matter of time?

ABSTRACT: Helicoverpa armigera has recently invaded South and Central America, and appears to be spreading rapidly. We update a previously developed potential distribution model to highlight the global invasion threat, with emphasis on the risks to the United States. The continued range expansion of H. armigera in Central America is likely to change the invasion threat it poses to North America qualitatively, making natural dispersal from either the Caribbean islands or Mexico feasible. To characterise the threat posed by H. armigera, we collated the value of the major host crops in the United States growing within its modelled potential range, including that area where it could expand its range during favourable seasons. We found that the annual value of crops that would be exposed to H. armigera t

SUBMITTER: Kriticos DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4364701 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature