Abstract We face an increasing global food security challenge as the human population continues to grow across the globe. As agricultural production rises to keep up with food demand, so too does the expansion of crop detrimental pest species. Early detection can be crucial to control their damage and relies on the use of accurate and dependable techniques. We report the first record of rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus) in the Iberian Peninsula. The distribution range expansion of this invasive rice pest weevil is confirmed through traditional sampling and through natural sampling by bats combined with DNA metabarcoding, a non-invasive technique with strong potential for early detection of pests in agricultural areas. Presence of rice water weevil was confirmed genetically from bat faecal samples collected from a Pipistrellus pygmaeus bat roost in the Ebro Delta (Catalonia, Spain). The known distribution of this rice pest, native to North America, now includes four of the top five rice-producing European countries. To date, the economic damages caused by this pest in Europe are minimal and concentrated in small areas, but chemical and agronomic controls are implemented to control their populations. The nature of this record highlights the potential of insectivorous bats as natural samplers to detect (and possibly control) pest species in crops. Further studies are required to determine the full extent of the rice water weevil's spread, and to investigate integrated pest management systems, including biological control to suppress their populations.

中文翻译：

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蝙蝠作为天然采样器：首次记录伊比利亚半岛入侵害虫稻水象鼻虫 Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus

摘要 随着全球人口持续增长，我们面临着日益严峻的全球粮食安全挑战。随着农业产量的增加以跟上粮食需求，作物有害害虫物种的扩张也在增加。早期检测对于控制其损害至关重要，并且依赖于准确可靠的技术的使用。我们报告了伊比利亚半岛稻水象鼻虫（Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus）的第一个记录。这种入侵性水稻害虫象鼻虫的分布范围扩大通过传统采样和蝙蝠自然采样与 DNA 元条形码相结合得到证实，DNA 元条形码是一种非侵入性技术，具有在农业地区早期发现害虫的巨大潜力。从 Ebro Delta（西班牙加泰罗尼亚）的 Pipistrellus pygmaeus 蝙蝠栖息地收集的蝙蝠粪便样本中，通过遗传学证实了稻水象鼻虫的存在。这种原产于北美的水稻害虫的已知分布现在包括欧洲前五个水稻生产国中的四个。迄今为止，这种害虫在欧洲造成的经济损失很小，而且集中在小范围内，但实施了化学和农艺控制措施来控制其种群。该记录的性质突出了食虫蝙蝠作为天然采样器检测（并可能控制）作物害虫物种的潜力。需要进一步研究以确定稻水象鼻虫的全面传播范围，并调查综合害虫管理系统，包括生物控制以抑制其种群。