Browsing by Author "Jara Contreras, Valentina Isabel"

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    Climate change impacts on invasive potential of pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), in Chile
    (2013) Jara Contreras, Valentina Isabel; Meza, Francisco Javier; Zaviezo Palacios, Tania; Chorbadjian Alonso, Rodrigo Armen
    Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudoccidae) is an important pest in many countries being responsible for considerable economic loses. Although it is not currently present in Chile, the chance that it could be accidentally introduced rises with the list of infested countries increasing over the last years. In addition, climate change projections indicate that a larger region would fit as potential habitat for this pest, allowing it to persist over time and colonize a larger proportion of the Chilean territory. In this study the geographic distribution and the number of generations this mealybug would develop in Chile were determined, under current temperatures and under two projected climatic scenarios. Cumulative degree days were calculated for current and future scenarios using a lower temperature threshold of 14.5 degrees C, with 624.5 degree-days as the thermal requirement for the species to complete one generation. The results show that under current climate conditions M. hirsutus could develop up to three generations in the north of the country (i.e. 18 degrees South) and one generation in the region near 37 degrees South. Under future scenarios' conditions the pest could develop up to five generations in the north, and one generation around the 42 degrees South. Present climate conditions in Chile would allow the establishment of the pink hibiscus mealybug, if the pest enters the country. Climate change conditions would allow the potentially invaded area to expand south, and would promote the development of more generations per year of the mealybug in the studied territory.