Source  Entomologia Generalis

PublishedMar 31, 2026

DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/3374

IF 4.6

Abstract  Invasive species increasingly threaten global biodiversity and agricultural productivity. However, research on invasion processes often lacks historical references and predictive insights. Liriomyza sativae, native to the Americas, is rapidly expanding worldwide. This study integrated the population genetics and ecological niche modeling to investigate its population history, contemporary global spread, and future invasion risks using global mitochondrial COI genes and occurrence records. Adaptive mechanisms to climatic environments during the expansion were also analyzed using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The results reveal that the suitable habitats and demography of L. sativae have expanded rapidly since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), likely driven by Holocene warming, creating conditions conducive to its contemporary global invasion. Gene migration analysis reveals a long-distance dispersal network, with Mexico serving as a key source of ancestral haplotypes for invasive populations and a major center of global spread. Recent human activities, including trade and cultivation, may have facilitated its migration. Future climate changes are projected to further enhance the ecological suitability of L. sativae, combined with human-mediated dispersal, may facilitate its expansion into higher-latitude regions. Niche comparisons reveal that invasive populations tolerate colder conditions than native populations, with the mean minimum temperature of the coldest month (bio6) being 0.82 °C in the invasive range compared to 9.25 °C in the native range. Genotype shifts and candidate genes associated with distinct climatic conditions suggest the species’ capacity for rapid adaptive evolution during invasion. Under future climate change and globalization, prevention and control efforts should prioritize high-latitude regions and human-mediated dispersal routes.