Figure 3. CLIMEX climatic suitability indices for Phenacoccus manihoti at selected locations.

Predictions are based on the ecological index (EI), a measure of climatic suitability scaled from 1–100, for locations within CLIMEX's station database. The growth index captures conditions suitable for population growth and the wet stress captures mortality due to rainfall only. Predictions for Asuncion and Noqui correlate with P. manihoti seasonal dynamics reported by Löhr and Varela [2] and Leuschner and Nwanze [39] respectively.