title: Multiple transatlantic introductions of the western corn rootworm.
abstract: The invasion of Europe by the western corn rootworm, North America's most destructive corn pest, is ongoing and represents a serious threat to European agriculture. Because this pest was initially introduced in Central Europe, it was believed that subsequent outbreaks in Western Europe originated from this area. Using model-based Bayesian analyses of the genetic variability of the western corn rootworm, we demonstrate that this belief is false: There have been at least three independent introductions from North America during the past two decades. This result raises questions about changing circumstances that have enabled a sudden burst of transatlantic introductions.
authors.affiliation: Biologie des Populations en Interaction, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1112 Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, 400 Route des Chappes, 06903 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estoup
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toepfer
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bourguet
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lapchin
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derridj
authors.forename: Kyung Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reynaud
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guillemaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000235:genetics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005060:Europe; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007300:Insect Control; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009656:North America; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014481:United States; D003313:Zea mays