The first detection of the alien species: green-peach aphid Myzus (Nectarosiphon) persicae (Insecta, Hemiptera, Aphididae) in the Svalbard archipelago

Abstract

Although the high Arctic archipelago Svalbard is among the best-studied Arctic regions in terms of biodiversity, its aphid fauna is extremely limited. Two endemic species have been described to date, and no species of a foreign origin has been registered. Our observation is the first record of the non-native and potentially invasive green-peach aphid species Myzus (Nectarosiphon) persicae (Insecta, Hemiptera, Aphididae), which was collected on the largest island of the archipelago-Spitsbergen. The green-peach aphid was found on three different ornamental plants: Viola tricolor (Violaceae), Dianthus caryophyllus (Pink Kisses) (Caryophyllaceae) and Petunia × hybrida (surfinia) (Solanaceae). The plants were displayed in front of one of the shops in the main street of Longyearbyen, the largest populated settlement of Svalbard. The infected plants came from the only supermarket on the archipelago, which had brought them from the mainland of Norway. Although the aphids (winged and wingless viviparous females and immature ones) were clearly visible on all of the plants (the distinct colonies from few to numerous individuals), the owners were not aware that the plants were infected. Similarly, the supermarket staff who are responsible for the live green plants did not register the presence of aphids on the imported plants. In this context, our results also suggest that a stricter approach to regional biosecurity needs to be considered in order to avoid the risks of further unintentional introductions.

Herbivores in Arctic ecosystems: Effects of climate change and implications for carbon and nutrient cycling

“…• Herbivores expected to increase with warmer temperatures 145,213 • Declines in abundances of some pollinators 146,152 • Detritivores responding in various ways 6,145,[214][215][216][217][218] • Declines in some spiders but no changes in others 219,220 • Some herbivore pests expanding northward (e.g., winter moth) 52,147 • Recent detections of alien aphid pest in Svalbard and Greenland 221,222 • Some pest and parasite species expanding northward, including ticks, 223,224 and floodwater mosquitoes, 225 parasitic nematodes 226,227 • Increased black fly richness in recent decades on Victoria Island, Canada 228 • Geoengineering earthworms may move northward as conditions become milder 229,230 • Insect life history events occurring earlier with warming [231][232][233] • Some herbivores 213,[234][235][236] and canopy arthropods 151 track phenology of plant resources • Additional reproductive opportunities for spiders 237 and some aquatic invertebrates (Kendrick and Huryn unpublished) with longer summers Vertebrate predators…”