Bioclimatic and Landscape Factors drive the Potential Distribution of Philaenus spumarius, Neophilaenus campestris and N. lineatus (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) in Southeastern Iberian Peninsula

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Xylella fastidiosa (Bacteria, Xanthomonadaceae), the grapevine Pierce’s disease agent, is an American native bacterium, considered among the more dangerous invasive pathogens for grape, olive and stone fruit trees in Europe and Asia. Xylella fastidiosa is vectorized by sapfeeding insects, such as the native Eurasian spittlebugs Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris. Knowledge of the distribution and habitat preferences of X. fastidiosa vectors and other potential vectors is an essential element of contingency plans against future X. fastidiosa invasions. Our work presents the results of extensive sampling of P. spumarius, N. campestris, N. lienatus and Lepyronia coleoptrata in the Autonomous Community of Murcia (SE Spain) in 2020. We performed habitat suitability models of these species using bioclimatic, landscape and topographical variables. Distributions of P. spumarius, N. campestris and N. lineatus in the Murcia region are mainly driven by bioclimatic and landscape composition variables. The more suitable habitats are in the coldest and wettest areas with a high proportion of forests, possibly related to the summer migratory movements. Instead, all three species are absent from large areas of the region, including the southern third, where models predict no suitability. The results could be a useful tool for contingency planning against a possible X. fastidiosa invasion. ABSTRACT: Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris are the main vectors of the invasive bacteria Xylella fastidiosa and key threats to European plant health. Previous studies of the potential distribution of P. spumarius reveal that climatic factors are the main drivers of its distribution on the Mediterranean Basin scale. Other local studies reveal that the landscape could also have a role in the distribution of both species of P. spumarius and N. campestris. Our work is aimed at understanding the role and importance of bioclimatic and landscape environmental factors in the distributions of the vector and potential vector species P. spumarius, N. campestris, N. lineatus and L. coleoptrata on a regional scale across the Autonomous Community of Murcia (SE Spain), a region with relevant environmental gradients of thermality and crop intensity. We used sweeping nets for sampling 100 points during eight months in 2020. Using bioclimatic landscape composition and topographical variables, we carried out habitat suitability models for each species using the maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt). Distribution results for P. spumarius, N. campestris and N. lineatus indicate a gradient in habitat suitability, with the optimum in the coldest and wettest areas in landscapes with a high proportion of forest. All three species are absent from the southern third of the study region, the hottest, driest and most intensively cultivated area. These results are useful and should be considered in contingency plans against possible invasions of X. fastidiosa in Mediterranean regions.