Using CLIMEX a bioclimatic software for predicting the impact of climate change on potential distribution of invasive tomato leaf miner, Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

For assessing the potential distribution of P. absoluta in World, we used CLIMEX ver. 4.0, a bioclimatic software for modeling the pest distribution under present and future climate change scenarios. Our results showed Southeast and Southwest of North America, Central and South Americas, East, Central, Southern and some Western Africa, North Europe, South and Southeast Asia and major portion of Australia were highly suitable areas for P. absoluta in current and future climates. Major tomato producing countries like China, Spain, India and Mexico should be concerned about the risk of P. absoluta due to their suitability of climate for this pest. Regions with high latitude areas, for example the Southeast and Southwest of the United States, Northern Europe and Argentina in South America will become more suitable for the P. absoluta in future due to significant rise in temperatures as per RCP 8.5 scenario. The predictions by our model suggest the total geographic distribution range of P. absoluta in world is to increase slightly with future climate changes.