Invasion and spread of the neotropical leafhopper Curtara insularis (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) in Africa and North America and the role of high-altitude windborne migration in invasive insects

By

Nartey, Rita
Chamorro, Maria Lourdes
Buffington, Matthew L.
Afrane, Yaw
Mohammed, Abdul Rahim
Owusu-Asenso, Christopher
Akosah-Brempong5, Gabriel
Pambit-Zong, Cosmos
Hendrix, Solomon
Dao, Adama
Yaro, Alpha
Diallo, Moussa
Sanogo, Zana
Djibril, Samake
Halbert, Susan
Bamou, Roland
Nance, Catherine
Bartlett, Charles R.
Reynolds, Don
Chapman, Jason
Obiri-Danso2, Kwasi
Lehmann, Tovi

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

NeoBiota : advancing research on alien species and biological invasions

Volume

96

Pages

173--189

Subjects

Africa , high-altitude windborne dispersal , invasive species , leafhopper , range-expansion , vehicular transport

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sophia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.96.130615

 

Abstract

Invasive insects threaten ecosystem stability, public health, and food security. Documenting newly invasive species and understanding how they reach into new territories, establish populations, and interact with other species remain vitally important. Here, we report on the invasion of the South American leafhopper, Curtara insularis into Africa, where it has established populations in Ghana, encroaching inland at least 350 km off the coast. Importantly, 80% of the specimens collected were intercepted between 160 and 190 m above ground. Further, the fraction of this species among all insects collected was also higher at altitude, demonstrating its propensity to engage in high-altitude windborne dispersal. Its aerial densities at altitude translate into millions of migrants/km over a year, representing massive propagule pressure. Given the predominant south-westerly winds, these sightings suggest an introduction of C. insularis into at least one of the Gulf of Guinea ports. To assess the contribution of windborne dispersal to its spread in a new territory, we examine records of C. insularis range-expansion in the USA. Reported first in 2004 from central Florida, it reached north Florida (Panhandle) by 2008–2011 and subsequently spread across the southeastern and south-central US. Its expansion fits a “diffusion-like” process with 200—300 km long “annual displacement steps”—a pattern consistent with autonomous dispersal rather than vehicular transport. Most “steps” are consistent with common wind trajectories from the nearest documented population, assuming 2—8 hours of wind-assisted flight at altitude. Curtara insularis has been intercepted at US ports and on trucks. Thus, it uses multiple dispersal modalities, yet its rapid overland spread is better explained by its massive propagule pressure linked with its high-altitude windborne dispersal. We propose that high-altitude windborne dispersal is common yet under-appreciated in invasive insect species.