Alain Roques

• DSc Pau University; PhD
• French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE)

The genus Agrilus includes two species, A. planipennis and A. anxius , that are of particular phytosanitary concern and that are regulated by the European Union legislation. This implies that phytosanitary agencies of all EU countries are obliged to establish specific surveillance programmes to verify the absence of these species from their territo...

The Scots pine cone weevil, Pissodes validirostris Gyll. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) widely distributed from Europe, across to North-Eastern China, consumes the cones of Mediterranean pines, as well those of the sylvestris section. The use of multiple host pine species with limited and patchy distributions, combined with low dispersal rates, likely...

Thanasimus formicarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) is an important bark beetle predator and can reduce bark beetle population densities of some of the most severe forest pests in Europe. We analysed the population genetics and phylogeography of T. formicarius across its European range, using mitochondrial COI data from 187 individuals sampled from...

Individual sorting and identification of thousands of insects collected in mass trapping biosurveillance programmes is a labour-intensive and time-consuming process. Metabarcoding allows the simultaneous identification of multiple individuals in a single mixed sample and has the potential to expedite this process. However, detecting all the species...

Aim The Hemiptera is the fifth‐largest insect order but among non‐native insect species is approximately tied with the Coleoptera as the most species‐rich insect order (Hemiptera comprise 20% more species than in world fauna). This over‐representation may result from high propagule pressure or from high species invasiveness. Here, we assess the rea...

Baited traps are a basic component of both specific and generic surveillance programs targeting wood-boring beetles at risk of introduction to new habitats because of global trade. Among the numerous protocols developed over the years for generic surveillance of longhorn beetles, jewel beetles, and bark and ambrosia beetles is the simultaneous use...

In an era marked by rapid global changes, the reinforcement and modernization of plant health surveillance systems have become imperative. Sixty-five scientists present here a research agenda for an enhanced and modernized plant health surveillance to anticipate and mitigate disease and pest emergence. Our approach integrates a wide range of scient...

Individual sorting and identification of thousands of insects collected in mass trapping biosurveillance programs is a labour intensive and time-consuming process. Metabarcoding, allows for the simultaneous identification of multiple individuals in a single mixed sample and has the potential to expedite this process. However, detecting all the spec...

Aim Invasions of non‐native insects can have substantial impacts on agriculture, forestry, human health and biodiversity with considerable economic and environmental consequences. To understand the causes of these invasions, it is important to quantify the relative influence of principal drivers such as international imports and climatic effects....

Xylosandrus crassiusculus is an invasive ambrosia beetle comprising two differentiated genetic lineages, named cluster 1 and cluster 2. These lineages invaded different parts of the world at different periods of time. We tested whether they exhibited different climatic niches using Schoener’s D and Hellinger’s I indices and modeled their current po...

The geographical exchange of non-native species can be highly asymmetrical, with some world regions donating or receiving more species than others. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain such asymmetries, including differences in propagule pressure, source species (invader) pools, environmental features in recipient regions, or biological...

Individual sorting and identification of thousands of insects collected in mass trapping biosurveillance programs is a labor intensive and time-consuming process. Metabarcoding, which allows for the simultaneous identification of multiple individuals in a single mixed sample, has the potential to expedite this process. However, detecting all the sp...

Non-native pests, climate change, and their interactions are likely to alter relationships between trees and tree-associated organisms with consequences for forest health. To understand and predict such changes, factors structuring tree-associated communities need to be determined. Here, we analysed the data consisting of records of insects and fun...

Individual sorting and identification of thousands of insects collected in mass trapping biosurveillance programs is a labor intensive and time-consuming process. Metabarcoding, which allows for the simultaneous identification of multiple individuals in a single mixed sample, has the potential to expedite this process. However, detecting all the sp...

Thousands of insect species have been introduced outside of their native ranges, and some of them strongly impact ecosystems and human societies. Because a large fraction of insects feed on or are associated with plants, nonnative plants provide habitat and resources for invading insects, thereby facilitating their establishment. Furthermore, plant...

Xylosandrus crassiusculus, a fungus-farming wood borer native to Southeastern Asia, is the most rapidly spreading invasive ambrosia species worldwide. Previous studies focusing on its genetic structure suggested the existence of cryptic genetic variation in this species. Yet, these studies used different genetic markers, focused on different geogra...

Buprestidae (Coleoptera: Buprestoidea) is one of the three wood-borer beetle groups of major phytosani-tary interest worldwide, together with Cerambycidae and Scolytinae (Curculionidae). As in other beetle families, some buprestid species have been unintentionally or intentionally introduced around the world, in some cases causing significant envir...

A large proportion of the insects which have invaded new regions and countries are emerging species, being found for the first time outside their native range. Being able to detect such species upon arrival at ports of entry before they establish in non-native countries is an urgent challenge. The deployment of traps baited with broad-spectrum semi...

Non-native pests, climate change, and their interactions are likely to alter relationships between trees and tree-associated organisms with consequences for forest health. To understand and predict such changes, factors structuring tree-associated communities need to be determined. Here, we analysed the data consisting of records of insects and fun...

Alien insects represent one of the most species rich groups of organisms introduced to Europe, with some responsible for adverse social-economic, human-health, biodiversity and ecosystem impacts. The impacts of invasive alien species, especially on island ecosystems, have been a hot topic of research worldwide. Cy-prus is a Mediterranean island at...

The use of sentinel woody plants in experimental plantings, Botanical Gardens and Arboreta has been experimentally validated as a tool for identifying possible unknown future threats prior to their introduction into new countries. Sentinel Plantings were recently established in Italy, France, Switzerland, China and South Africa, using a common expe...

Xylosandrus crassiusculus, a fungus-farming wood borer native to Southeastern Asia, is the most rapidly spreading invasive ambrosia species worldwide. Previous studies focusing on its genetic structure suggested the existence of cryptic genetic variation in this species. Yet, these studies used different genetic markers, focused on different geogra...

The geographical exchange of non-native insects can be highly asymmetrical, with some world regions 'exporting' or 'importing' more species than others. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain such asymmetries, including differences in propagule pressure, environmental features in recipient regions, or biological traits of invaders. We tes...

The Western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, is native to North America and has already been considered a significant pest in several European countries since its first observation in Italy in 1999. In Spain and Portugal, it was recorded for the first time in 2003 and 2010, respectively, and its impact on Stone Pine (Pinus pinea) is of...

Background: Bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) are amongst the most important wood- boring insects introduced to Europe. During field investigations conducted between 2019 and 2021 in different countries and regions of Europe, many exotic species have been recorded providing new and relevant data. New information: Dryoxylon onohara...

Aim Biological invasions are a major threat to biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Insects represent an important group of species in freshwater and terrestrial habitats, and they constitute a large proportion of non‐native species. However, while many non‐native insects are known from terrestrial ecosystems, they appear to be less re...

Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky, 1866) occupies worldwide temperate to tropical forests and suburban areas within its natural and non-native range as a result of human introductions. Given its pest status, several studies of population genetics have been conducted. As a result of an ongoing study, several smaller individuals from southern Th...

Identifying the invasion routes of non-native species is crucial to understanding invasions and customizing management strategies. The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis , is native to Asia and was recently accidentally introduced into Europe as a result of the ornamental plant trade. Over the last 15 years, it has spread across the continent and...

Native to Southeastern Asia, the ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus compactus is invasive worldwide. Its invasion is favoured by its cryptic lifestyle, symbiosis with a fungus that facilitates a broad range of host plants, and predominant sib-mating reproduction. X. compactus invaded Africa more than a century ago and the Americas and Pacific Islands in t...

Aim: Lepidoptera is a highly diverse, predominantly herbivorous insect order, with species transported to outside their native range largely facilitated by the global trade of plants and plant-based goods. Analogous to island disharmony, we examine invasion disharmony, where species filtering during invasions increases systematic compositional diff...

Aim Biological invasions are a major threat to biodiversity in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Insects represent an important group of species in freshwater and terrestrial habitats, and they constitute a large proportion of non-native species. However, while many non-native insects are known from terrestrial ecosystems, it remains unclear h...

International trade in plants and climate change are two of the main factors causing damaging tree pests (i.e. fungi and insects) to spread into new areas. To mitigate these risks, a large-scale assessment of tree-associated fungi and insects is needed. We present records of endophytic fungi and insects in twigs of 17 angiosperm and gymnosperm gene...

International trade in plants and climate change are two of the main factors causing damaging tree pests (i.e. fungi and insects) to spread into new areas. To mitigate these risks, a large-scale assessment of tree-associated fungi and insects is needed. We present records of endophytic fungi and insects in twigs of 17 angiosperm and gymnosperm gene...

Aim The concept of “island disharmony” has been widely applied to describe the systematic over- and under-representation of taxa on islands compared to mainland regions. Here, we explore an extension of that concept to biological invasions. We compare biogeographical patterns in native and non-native beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages from around the...

Context Contact with the setae of larvae (caterpillars) of pine or oak processionary moths could induce urticarial or allergic reactions in humans. These species are present in France and presently expanding towards highly populated areas due to climate change and/or human-mediated translocations. We aimed to describe the symptomatic cases of expos...

ContextDevelopment and survival vary across a species’ geographic range and are also affected by local conditions like urban warming, which may drive changes in biology that magnify or reduce the risks of hazardous organisms to people. Larvae of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff; PPM) are covered with setae (hair-like stru...

Xylosandrus compactus and X. crassiusculus are two polyphagous ambrosia beetles originating from Asia and invasive in circumtropical regions worldwide. Both species were recently reported in Italy and further invaded several other European countries in the following years. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to estimate the suitable areas worldwide for bo...

The number of alien species arriving within new regions has increased at unprecedented rates. Managing the pathways through which alien species arrive and spread is important to reduce the threat of biological invasions. Harmonising information on pathways across individual sectors and user groups is therefore critical to underpin policy and action...

The association between indirect environmental cues that modulate insect diapause and the actual stressors is by no means granted when a species encounters new environments. The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is an Asian pest whose rapid invasion in Europe causes considerable economic and ecological impacts. Larvae enter a winter diapause in...

The association between indirect environmental cues that modulate insect diapause and the actual stressors is by no means granted when a species encounters new environments. The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis , is an Asian pest whose rapid invasion in Europe cause considerable economic and ecological impacts. Larvae enter a winter diapause in...

This guide is intended as an aid for managers of sentinel plantings, botanical gardens or arboreta, as well as phytosanitary inspectors, who may have knowledge of common pests and diseases of woody plants, but may not know the likely cause of damage that they have not encountered before. It aims to provide a tentative identification of relatively b...

To investigate enemy pressure across the range of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa, Den. & Schiff.) as it spreads northwards in Europe because of climate change, a survey of 206 egg batches from historical and newly colonized areas at both the westernmost and the easternmost ends of the front was carried out in 2016–2018. Out of...

Larch budmoth (LBM) periodically defoliates alpine stands of European larch during vast outbreaks occurring generally at 8–10 year intervals. LBM outbreaks recently declined and the ongoing global warming has been pointed out as a possible cause of this decline. In this article, we reconstructed the recent history of LBM outbreaks at different elev...

Sirex noctilio F. (Hymenoptera: Siricidae: Siricinae), a new invasive species in China, is a significant international forestry pest which, transported via logs and related wood packing materials, has led to environmental damage and substantial economic loss in many countries around the world. It was first detected in China in 2013, and since then...

The sudden interruption of recurring larch budmoth (LBM; Zeiraphera diniana or griseana Gn.) outbreaks across the European Alps after 1982 was surprising, because populations had regularly oscillated every 8–9 years for the past 1200 years or more. Although ecophysiological evidence was limited and underlying processes remained uncertain, climate c...

Forests are increasingly threatened worldwide by the establishment of non-native species arriving from other continents with globalization of trade and international travels. We compiled comprehensive lists of non-native insects associated to woody plants in Europe and China to compare their invasive patterns between these two regions. By 2019, a t...

Abstract: The diversity of herbivorous insects may arise from colonization and subsequent specialization on different host plants. Such specialization requires changes in several insect traits, which may lead to host race formation if they reduce gene flow among populations that feed on different plants. Behavioural changes may play a relevant role...

Cities, due to the presence of ports and airports and the high diversity of trees in streets, parks, and gardens, may play an important role for the introduction of invasive forest pests. We hypothesize that areas of urban forest facilitate the establishment of non-native forest pests. Based on scientific literature and a pan-European database on n...

The international seed trade is considered relatively safe from a phytosanitary point of view and is therefore less regulated than trade in other plants for planting. However, the pests carried by traded seeds are not well known. We assessed insects and fungi in 58 traded seed lots of 11 gymnosperm and angiosperm tree species from North America, Eu...

The number of invasive alien pest and pathogen species affecting ecosystem functioning, human health and economies has increased dramatically over the last decades. Discoveries of invasive pests and pathogens previously unknown to science or with unknown host associations yet damaging on novel hosts highlights the necessity of developing novel tool...

Many recently established non-native insect species appear to be spreading across Europe significantly faster than before. The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), a native to Asia, is illustrative of this trend. First recorded in 2007 in Germany, the moth has then colonized in less than 10 years more than 30 countries in Europe and Asia Minor, c...

In Table 1, longitude of the population 1 (Tallgrass, Canada) and the associated Figs. 2c and 5c were published incorrectly in the original publication of the article.

The Asian long-horned beetle (ALB), a Cerambycidae, is an urban tree pest native to East Asia accidentally introduced to other continents via solid wood packing material. It was first detected in Europe in 2001, and since then infestations have been found in ten European countries. Using a 485-bp-long fragment of the mitochondrial barcode gene (COI...

Retracing the routes of invasions and determining the origins of invading species is often critical in understanding biological invasions. The Western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, an insect native of western North America, was first accidentally introduced to eastern North America and then to Europe. The colonization of the entire E...

The accidental introduction of exotic wood-boring cerambycid beetles represents an ever increasing threat to forest biosecurity and the economies of many countries. Early detection of such species upon arrival at potential points-of-entry is challenging. Because pheromone components are often conserved among related species in the family Cerambycid...

The number of alien plant pests and pathogens is rapidly increasing in many countries as a result of increasing trade, particularly the trade in living plants. Sentinel plantings in exporting countries to detect arthropod pests and agents of diseases prior to introduction provide information about the likelihood of introduction and the potential im...

Partie 3 : Douglas-fir ecology

A recent analysis of a worldwide database of the dates of introduction of more than 17 000 animal and plant species into continents other than their native one shows that, in most groups — in particular insects and other arthropods — establishment of new species is not saturated. With globalisation has brought about an exponential increase in the r...

The invasive seed bug Leptoglossusoccidentalis , a species native to Western North America, is of major concern for the producers of stone pine seeds in the Mediterranean countries. The large size of these edible seeds and their nutritive content may represent a pull factor for the seed bug. Cone and seed traits of three main Mediterranean pine spe...

The European Union (EU) has recently published its first list of invasive alien species (IAS) of EU concern to which current legislation must apply. The list comprises species known to pose great threats to biodiversity and needs to be maintained and updated. Horizon scanning is seen as critical to identify the most threatening potential IAS that d...

The uncertainty surrounding the part played by an invasive North American seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis, in the observed decrease in seed production of the Mediterranean pine, Pinus pinea, is a limiting factor for its management. Furthermore, the possibility of increasing cone production through irrigation and fertilization regimes is gaining...

Hylesia moths impact human health in South America, inducing epidemic outbreaks of lepidopterism, a puriginous dermatitis caused by the urticating properties of females’ abdominal setae. The classification of the Hylesia genus is complex, owing to its high diversity in Amazonia, high intraspecific morphological variance, and lack of interspecific d...

During the last two centuries, thousands of insect species have been transported (largely inadvertently) and established outside of their native ranges worldwide, some with catastrophic ecological and economic impacts. Global variation in numbers of invading species depends on geographic variation in propagule pressure and heterogeneity of environm...

Ornamental plants represent a major pathway of invasion for alien pests worldwide. Commodity risk analyses are carried out to assess the risk posed by a new trade in a commodity, but they are restricted by our limited knowledge of the pests carried by traded plants. We used the sentinel nursery technique to identify insects attacking woody plants i...

Larvae of larch budmoth (Zeiraphera griseana; LBM) periodically defoliate alpine stands of European larch (Larix decidua) during massive outbreaks occurring at 8-10 year intervals, with an optimum at 1800 m altitude. Severe defoliation decreases the trees’ photosynthetic potential and growth, especially resulting into narrower ring width. We invest...

A total of 43 insect species non-native to Europe are so far considered to affect human welfare through their biting, urticating and allergenic properties, or by causing domestic nuisances. They involve several orders. In Hymenoptera, species in two families, Formicidae (ants) and Vespidae (wasps and hornets), are known to cause disturbance and hea...

In this study, we report the development of a set of 15 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Walker), a highly invasive insect in Europe causing signifi cant damage to natural and ornamental Buxus trees. The markers were characterized for four distant populations in both its native (China, two populations...

Purpose of Review Climate change affects populations of forest insect pests in a number of ways. We reviewed the most recent literature (2013–2017) on this subject including previous reviews on the topic. We provide a comprehensive discussion of the subject, with special attention to insect range expansion, insect abundance, impacts on forest ecosy...

Significance Our ability to predict the identity of future invasive alien species is largely based upon knowledge of prior invasion history. Emerging alien species—those never before encountered as aliens—therefore pose a significant challenge to biosecurity interventions worldwide. Using a global database of the first regional records of alien spe...

We reconstructed the phylogeography of European populations of Monochamus galloprovincialis (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), the European vector of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. This study investigated the Quaternary history of M. galloprovincialis and tested whether environmental parameters and/or host tree species influenced the g...

The use of multiple sampling areas in landscape genetic analysis has been recognized as a useful way of generalizing the patterns of environmental effects on organism gene flow. It reduces the variability in inference which can be substantially affected by the scale of the study area and its geographic location. However, empirical landscape genetic...