Orsillus depressus (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), an invasive circum-mediterranean species recently reported from America: Are the endemic and already endangered Cupressaceae trees from the Andean Region facing a new challenge?

Abstract

Orsillus depressus, a circum-mediterranean species of seed bug that lives on several genera and species of Cupressaceae is considered a pest of these trees, has recently been recorded for the first time in America, in Argentina. As the western records of O. depressus are close to endemic Cupressaceae forests from the Andean Region, our attention is drawn to the possible risk of colonization and establishment of O. depressus on these forests, where three endemic monotipic genera are found: Austrocedrus chilensis, Fitzroya cupressoides and Pilgerodendron uviferum. Maxent Models for present and future scenarios, and Minimum Volume Ellipsoids were used, and natural pathways were explored. Orsillus depressus has shown a high adaptive capacity todepressus environments with different climates, and considering the models predictions, there are large suitable areas for its establishment in southern Argentina and Chile. Also, the climatic space O. depressus occupies is small and in part new, and an expansion should be expected. Moreover, multiple natural pathways were recognized that would allow its ingression in areas highly suitable with endemic Cupressaceae forests.