Long-distance wind-borne dispersal of the moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Evergestinae) into the northern Mediterranean
On October 2006, during an episode of abnormally warm weather, the African moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lederer, 1858) was captured simultaneously for the first time in several sites in north-eastern Spain, the Balearic Islands and southern France. A deep depression situated over the Atlantic at the...
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| Format: | Article |
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Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
2009-05-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Entomology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200902-0013_Long-distance_wind-borne_dispersal_of_the_moth_Cornifrons_ulceratalis_Lepidoptera_Crambidae_Evergestinae_in.php |
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| author | Jordi DANTART Constantí STEFANESCU Anna ÀVILA Marta ALARCÓN |
| author_facet | Jordi DANTART Constantí STEFANESCU Anna ÀVILA Marta ALARCÓN |
| author_sort | Jordi DANTART |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | On October 2006, during an episode of abnormally warm weather, the African moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lederer, 1858) was captured simultaneously for the first time in several sites in north-eastern Spain, the Balearic Islands and southern France. A deep depression situated over the Atlantic at the time gave rise to warm south-westerly winds, accompanied by suspended dust, that blew towards the north-western Mediterranean Basin. Back trajectories of air masses at two different altitudinal levels indicate that the moths most probably originated from an area located in Morocco and northern Algeria, where C. ulceratalis can be extremely abundant. With winter approaching, this invasion of a typically non-migratory species into the north-western Mediterranean Basin provides a good example of the so-called "pied piper" phenomenon, by which wind-borne insects may be carried into areas unfavourable for survival or reproduction. However, because climate change may make the establishment of this and other African species more likely in the future, we suggest that monitoring of this process may become an essential issue in the coming years. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T03:11:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-507b7ce5663d4f26b2781d90b98a903c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1210-5759 1802-8829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T03:11:58Z |
| publishDate | 2009-05-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj.art-507b7ce5663d4f26b2781d90b98a903c2022-12-21T22:05:48ZengInstitute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of ScienceEuropean Journal of Entomology1210-57591802-88292009-05-01106222522910.14411/eje.2009.030eje-200902-0013Long-distance wind-borne dispersal of the moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Evergestinae) into the northern MediterraneanJordi DANTART0Constantí STEFANESCU1Anna ÀVILA2Marta ALARCÓN3Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona (Zoologia), Passeig Picasso, s/n, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain; e-mail: jdantart@xtec.netButterfly Monitoring Scheme, Museu de Granollers de Ciències Naturals, Francesc MaciL, 51, E-08402 Granollers, SpainCentre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications, Edifici C, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, SpainDepartament de Física i Enginyeria Nuclear, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Urgell 187, E-08036 Barcelona, SpainOn October 2006, during an episode of abnormally warm weather, the African moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lederer, 1858) was captured simultaneously for the first time in several sites in north-eastern Spain, the Balearic Islands and southern France. A deep depression situated over the Atlantic at the time gave rise to warm south-westerly winds, accompanied by suspended dust, that blew towards the north-western Mediterranean Basin. Back trajectories of air masses at two different altitudinal levels indicate that the moths most probably originated from an area located in Morocco and northern Algeria, where C. ulceratalis can be extremely abundant. With winter approaching, this invasion of a typically non-migratory species into the north-western Mediterranean Basin provides a good example of the so-called "pied piper" phenomenon, by which wind-borne insects may be carried into areas unfavourable for survival or reproduction. However, because climate change may make the establishment of this and other African species more likely in the future, we suggest that monitoring of this process may become an essential issue in the coming years.https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200902-0013_Long-distance_wind-borne_dispersal_of_the_moth_Cornifrons_ulceratalis_Lepidoptera_Crambidae_Evergestinae_in.phpcornifrons ulcerataliscrambidaemothwind-borne migrationpied piper phenomenonnorth-western mediterranean |
| spellingShingle | Jordi DANTART Constantí STEFANESCU Anna ÀVILA Marta ALARCÓN Long-distance wind-borne dispersal of the moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Evergestinae) into the northern Mediterranean European Journal of Entomology cornifrons ulceratalis crambidae moth wind-borne migration pied piper phenomenon north-western mediterranean |
| title | Long-distance wind-borne dispersal of the moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Evergestinae) into the northern Mediterranean |
| title_full | Long-distance wind-borne dispersal of the moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Evergestinae) into the northern Mediterranean |
| title_fullStr | Long-distance wind-borne dispersal of the moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Evergestinae) into the northern Mediterranean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-distance wind-borne dispersal of the moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Evergestinae) into the northern Mediterranean |
| title_short | Long-distance wind-borne dispersal of the moth Cornifrons ulceratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Evergestinae) into the northern Mediterranean |
| title_sort | long distance wind borne dispersal of the moth cornifrons ulceratalis lepidoptera crambidae evergestinae into the northern mediterranean |
| topic | cornifrons ulceratalis crambidae moth wind-borne migration pied piper phenomenon north-western mediterranean |
| url | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200902-0013_Long-distance_wind-borne_dispersal_of_the_moth_Cornifrons_ulceratalis_Lepidoptera_Crambidae_Evergestinae_in.php |
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