The spread of alien aphid species Cinara curvipes and Cinara cedri in Europe – the impact of climate and plant trade

Authors

  • Roma Durak Faculty of Biology, Nature Protection, and Sustainable Development, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9100-766X
  • Karolina Piecuch Faculty of Biology, Nature Protection, and Sustainable Development, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
  • Beata Borowiak-Sobkowiak Departament of Entomology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4485-7925
  • Karina Wieczorek Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8331-5731
  • Sławomir Bartoszewski Faculty of Biology, Nature Protection, and Sustainable Development, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
  • Apostolos Kapranas Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5542-0470
  • Maciej K Konopiński Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0893-0846

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24425/jppr.2026.1063

Keywords

aphid, haplotype networks, climate change, spread of species

Abstract

Aphids are a strict group of insects that are particularly stimulated by current climate changes. Recent modifications in their life cycles, development, migration dates and geographical ranges are attributed to changes of local climates. Cinara curvipes, a species trophically related mainly to Abies spp., has been observed in Poland since 2015, while Cinara cedri, feeding on Cedrus sp., has been observed since 2022. Their presence is always associated with mass occurrence on host plants. The aim of this study was molecular identification of the species C. cedri and C. curvipes, collected in Poland. Potential pathways of introduction and spread of these species across Europe and the world was discussed. Based on the analysis of two genetic markers (COI and EF1-α), haplotype networks illustrating the relationships between populations from different parts of Europe and the world were presented. A contrasting pattern of low intraspecific variation in C. curvipes, but high in C. cedri was demonstrated, which may be associated with the modes of reproduction, mechanisms of dispersal of these two species, as well as introgressive hybridization between C. cedri and aphids belonging to Cinara (Cupressobium). Genetic relationships between mitochondrial haplotypes have shown that these species have reached Poland from western and southern Europe. These species have spread from their natural range mainly through imported plant material. Human activity and climate warming have enabled them to successfully settle.

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2026-07-01

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Durak, Roma, et al. “ The Spread of Alien Aphid Species Cinara Curvipes and Cinara Cedri in Europe – the Impact of Climate and Plant Trade”. Journal of Plant Protection Research, vol. 66, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 195-0, doi:10.24425/jppr.2026.1063.

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Vol. 66 No. 2 (2026)

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