Insect invasions track a tree invasion: Global distribution of black locust herbivores

Aim Many invasive plant species benefit from enemy release resulting the absence of insect herbivores in their invaded range. However, over time, specialized may ‘catch up’ with such plants. Black locust is a tree relatively limited native range North America but has large areas virtually every temperate continent including America. We hypothesize that both intra- and intercontinental spread black leads to parallel, though delayed pattern herbivores. Location Global. Taxon locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, its Methods compiled historical records occurrence herbivore associated R. pseudoacacia all world regions. Based on this list, we describe taxonomic patterns investigate associations between environmental features numbers non-native specialist portion by pseudoacacia. Results A total 454 herbivorous are recorded feeding across world, 23 these being Robinia. From group, seven have successfully expanded beyond Within America, richness specialists explained combination road density, distance range, climate. Main Conclusion Non-native accumulated other continents. The steady build-up invasions likely diminished benefited – trend will continue future. These findings support hypothesis plants promote parallel