New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
The potential distribution of German wasps (Vespula germanica) in Argentina
Paola D’Adamo*
Paula Sackmann
Juan C. Corley
Laboratorio de Ecología de Insectos Forestales
INTA EEA Bariloche, CC 277 (8400)
San Carlos de Bariloche
Río Negro, Argentina
email: pdadamo@bariloche.inta.gov.ar
Mauricio Rabinovich
Apicultura, Departamento de Tecnología
Universidad Nacional de Luján
Rutas 5 y 7 Luján
Buenos Aires, Argentina
*Author for correspondence
Abstract In the early 1980s, the German wasp (Vespula germanica) arrived in Argentina and became established in northern Patagonia. We use an ecoclimatic computer-based program (CLIMEX) to predict the potential spread of wasps to other areas of the country. The model suggests that much of Argentina does not appear to be very suitable for the species’ establishment. However, more suitable areas than those currently colonised by the wasp occur in the centre of the country. Based on CLIMEX results, we suggest that, if the wasps ever break through the barrier of unfavourable habitat that surrounds their current distribution, they will continue dispersing to those areas. Notwithstanding this, factors other than climate may explain why German wasps are firmly established in areas otherwise considered to be inhospitable for the species.
Keywords social insects; Patagonia; biological invasions; ecoclimatic matching
Z00042 Received 18 December 2000; accepted 5 November 2001
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2002, Vol. 29: 79–85
0301–4223/02/2902–0079 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002
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