Winter establishment of the alien annual Schismus barbatus is not affected by insect herbivory in Northern-Central Monte Desert

► We studied the effect of insect herbivory on seedling survival and reproduction of the alien Schismus barbatus. ► We counted surviving individuals in vegetative, flowering and fruiting phases over the cool season. ► Almost 75% of recruited plants survived the growing season. ► Near 20% of the initial plant population survived as mature reproductive plants. ► Plant recruitment, flowering and fruiting were not herbivore limited.