worms These are organisms essential to the health of the soil, which are greatly threatened by the increasing desertification of the country. However, another enemy of these creatures has been added to the increasing drought of the Peninsula: Argentinian firefliesThey feed on these worms.
A group of researchers from the Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution of the Complutense University of Madrid, alien firefly with incalculable effects on European communities.. Firefly Photinus signaticollis It is native to South America and has recently settled in Spain, especially Girona.
This firefly has colonized the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula since 2016, and in 2019 it crossed the Pyrenees and reached the south of France. The larvae of this firefly feed on worms. Therefore, high density of this species may negatively impact this key group in soil and agricultural processes.
Researchers are worried and still don’t know how far the situation has gone. colonization, ecological niche and possible expansion Distribution area in Europe.
“Using species distribution models, we have identified areas of high suitability across Europe where this firefly could become established if introduced. Interestingly, only using records from South America and relevant status models can we predict exactly where it would occur. The species is currently found in Europe since it exists climatic similarities between around their natural areas Río de la Plata and Girona province”, they state in a statement.
Born in South America, Photinus signaticollis It is distributed mainly in the temperate zones of Argentina and Uruguay, which, at least in some areas, have climatic characteristics very similar to those found on the western coast of the Mediterranean. This climatic similarity appears to have allowed this firefly to colonize the western Mediterranean, as the species was previously adapted to the same environmental conditions.
There do not appear to be any predators for these fireflies.
“Our results suggest that seasonal temperature appears to be the same between native and invaded regions. The climatic suitability and The apparent lack of native predators/parasitoids is likely responsible for the detection of large numbers of individuals. related to P.signaticollis in Europe since the first European records in recent years (2016-2023),” the study adds.
“Here we include the term ‘neglected invasive species“Due to the fact that there are very few resources, experts and focuses focusing on biological invasions and the number of cases is increasing, different problems and threats caused by exotic species may arise because they cannot be dealt with properly,” he adds.
Reference work: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10841-023-00522-7
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