Assessing the potential spread of Zaprionus tuberculatus (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the Americas: insights for proactive management and agricultural protection.

Invasive species pose significant ecological and economic threats globally. Zaprionus tuberculatus Malloch, a drosophilid fruit fly native to the Afrotropical region and Indian Ocean islands, is included in the pest list of the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience (CABI) because it uses fruit as breeding sites and can damage cultivated areas. This fly species extended its range across Europe in the late 20th century; in 2020, it was recorded in South America, and currently, it is widely distributed in Brazil.

Unraveling climatic niche evolution: Insights into the geographical distribution of the neotropical social wasp genus Synoeca (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini).

Niche evolution refers to the process by which species undergo changes in ecological interactions, as well as their ability to disperse over time. Our study focuses on the widely distributed neotropical genus of social wasps, Synoeca (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini). We use ecological niche modeling to investigate the niche evolution of this insects, to explore how species have evolved within and across distinct environmental boundaries, as well as to explore the overlap, equivalence, and similarity between their niches.

Establishment and Expansion Scenario of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Central Brazil.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), also known as spotted wing drosophila (SWD), is an important pest that damages various wild and cultivated soft fruits worldwide, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. In Brazil, it occurs mainly in the subtropical climates of the southern and southeastern regions. However, SWD has also been sporadically found in the central region of the country in the natural vegetation of the tropical Brazilian Savanna.