Whitney, T.D., Gandhi, K.J.K., & Lucardi, R.D. 2019 Native or non‐native? Historical biogeography of an emergent forest pest, Matsucoccus macrocicatrices. Journal of Biogeography 6: 2860–2874

Keywords:

DNA sequencing

distribution

radiation

Notes: The seemingly sudden ecological shift from benign herbivore to significant pest led us to suspect that M. macrocicatrices was non‐native. However, our findings suggest that this insect is native and has likely co‐occurred with its host tree since the last glacial maximum. Our study demonstrates the importance of historical biogeographical reconstruction to inform how to approach an emergent pest.