title: The bud midge Prodiplosis longifila: Damage characteristics, potential distribution and presence on a new crop host in Colombia.
abstract: The Dipteran Prodiplosis longifila is a severe pest, mainly of Solanaceae, in South America and some years ago it damaged Tahiti lime crops in the United States. It is a potential invasive pest. Despite its presence in Colombia, nothing is known regarding the taxonomic identification of P. longifila or the characteristics of the damage it produces. Moreover, the current and potential distributions of this pest are unknown. To determine these factors, P. longifila was sampled in several Solanaceae- and Citrus (x) latifolia (Tahiti lime)-producing areas in Colombia. The larvae consumed tender foliage, flowers and fruits in tomato, fruits in sweet pepper, and buds in Tahiti lime. P. longifila was not found in asparagus or in potatoes. Its presence in Tahiti lime was previously unknown in Colombia. Adults recovered in the laboratory were taxonomically identified using male morphological characteristics such as the shapes of the genitalia, antenna and wing. P. longifila was found in the Andean region of Colombia. The ecological niche model for populations found in tomato suggests that P. longifila is limited in its distribution by altitude and variables associated with temperature and precipitation. The highest probability of occurrence is in areas where tomato, sweet pepper and the new host, Tahiti lime, are grown. Therefore, it is necessary to implement preventive measures, such as planting tomato materials free of P. longifila larvae, in areas where the pest is not yet present but where there is the potential for its development.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Agrícolas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia ; Department of Agricultural Sciences, School of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Colombia at Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Agrícolas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia ; Department of Agricultural Sciences, School of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Colombia at Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia.
authors.forename: Yoan C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería y Administración, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia ; Department of Engineering, School of Engineering and Management, National University of Colombia at Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Arias
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Agrícolas, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia ; Department of Agricultural Sciences, School of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Colombia at Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia.
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Manzano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería y Administración, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia ; Department of Engineering, School of Engineering and Management, National University of Colombia at Palmira, Palmira, Valle del Cauca Colombia.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
keywords: Bud midge; Capsicum; Citrus; Ecological niche; Plant damage; Solanum