Thermal favorability and potential number of generations of Glycaspis brimblecombei in eucalyptus-producing areas of Mato Grosso
shell psyllid; degree-days; phytosanitary risk; ENSO; eucalyptus.
The shell psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), is an exotic eucalyptus pest whose biological cycle is strongly influenced by temperature. This study aimed to evaluate thermal favorability and estimate the number of generations of G. brimblecombei during the dry season (May to September) across different regions of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Daily temperature data from the Brazilian Daily Weather Gridded Data (BR-DWGD) covering the period from 1996 to 2025 were used for the 30 municipalities with the largest planted eucalyptus areas in the state. For the same period, data from the Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (CPC/NOAA) were used to characterize the phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The number of generations was estimated using the degree-day method, adopting a lower threshold temperature of 9.36 °C and a thermal constant of 363.40 degree-days, as described in the literature for this species. Moran's Index was applied to evaluate spatial autocorrelation in the overall historical series and across different ENSO phases. Temperatures (minimum, average, and maximum) decreased from May to July and increased starting in August, reaching peak values in September. The North, Northeast, and parts of the South-Central regions stood out, with an estimated seven to eight generations of the psyllid. These regions represent high phytosanitary risk areas for eucalyptus cultivation in the state due to greater thermal favorability. Of the 30 municipalities analyzed, 10 had part or all of their territory within this risk range; furthermore, 13 of the 39 biofuel plants mapped in the state are concentrated in these areas. Moran's Index indicated positive spatial autocorrelation across all ENSO phases, demonstrating spatial dependence and a tendency for neighboring municipalities to show similar estimates. It is concluded that delineating areas of higher thermal favorability, integrated with the spatial distribution of forest stands and biofuel plants, provides essential support for phytosanitary monitoring and forest planning in Mato Grosso, although the estimated number of potential generations still requires validation under field conditions.