1. Ragweed leaf beetle Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) successfully crossing the Slovenian-Austrian borderMirjana Šipek, Eva Horvat, Nina Šajna, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: In the past two decades, several alien insect species have been introduced to Europe. One of these is the chrysomelid beetle Ophraella communa, a promising biocontrol agent against its host plant, Ambrosia artemisiifolia. Ambrosia artemisiifolia produces highly allergenic pollen that causes significant health issues, leading to substantial healthcare costs. Since its first recorded occurrence in Italy and Switzerland in 2013, O. communa has been rapidly spreading across Europe. In 2023 and 2024, we monitored 27 populations of A. artemisiifolia in various habitats in northeastern Slovenia and one population across the border in Austria. We recorded the presence of O. communa, its developmental stages, herbivory damage, and associated fauna. Ambrosia artemisiifolia population sizes ranged from a single plant to entire fields with over 100 individuals. We confirmed the presence of O. communa in 89% of the monitored Slovenian populations as well as in the Austrian site. Ophraella communa was observed in Radkersburg, Austria, on July 31, 2024, with a single adult specimen found in a large A. artemisiifolia population growing in a pumpkin field. One week later, eggs were detected, and by the end of August, all developmental stages of O. communa were present. Despite this, the herbivory rate remained relatively low in all monitored populations. The accompanying fauna of A. artemisiifolia in agricultural fields included several specimens of Corythucha arcuata. In an urban environment, at a ruderal parking lot in Maribor, we observed one adult Cicadella viridis on an A. artemisiifolia stem and a final instar of Zicrona caerulea preying on a larva of O. communa. This research provides valuable insights into the dynamics of invasive species and their rapid range expansion.
Ključne besede: biological invasions, alien insects, herbivory, biocontrol, range expansion, ambrosia
Objavljeno v DKUM: 01.10.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 0
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2. First record of the Asian seed beetle Megabruchidius dorsalis (Fåhræus, 1839) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) in CroatiaEva Horvat, Nina Šajna, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The seed beetle Megabruchidius dorsalis is an alien species first found in Europe in 1989 in Italy. Since then, it has been recorded in many European countries, developing inside the seeds of the ornamental trees Gleditsia triacanthos and Gymnocladus dioicus. Mature G. triacanthos pods were collected from the ground in Zagreb, Croatia in February 2020. Four adult specimens of M. dorsalis emerged from the collected material by the end of May 2020, which confirms the first record of this species in Croatia. We also provide a temporal distribution map of M. dorsalis and another species, M. tonkineus, in Europe.
Ključne besede: alien species, non-native species, Gleditsia triacanthos, range expansion, Europe
Objavljeno v DKUM: 28.02.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 8
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3. Additional records of Megabruchidius dorsalis (Fåhræus, 1839) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) in Zagreb, CroatiaEva Horvat, Mirjana Šipek, Nina Šajna, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: In this paper, we report two new locations of the alien invasive seed beetle Megabruchidius dorsalis in Zagreb, Croatia. Additionally, we confirm for the second time the presence of M. dorsalis at one location in the same city. All beetles were reared from mature Gleditsia triacanthos pods collected from the ground (three locations) and from trees (one location). These records contribute to the knowledge of the distribution of M. dorsalis in Europe.
Ključne besede: new locations, seed beetle, alien species, range expansion, coexistence, Europe
Objavljeno v DKUM: 04.02.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 12
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4. First records of seed beetles Megabruchidius dorsalis (Fåhræus, 1839) and M. tonkineus (Pic, 1904) from three Balkan countriesMirjana Šipek, Eva Horvat, Nina Šajna, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Asian seed beetles of the genus Megabruchidius have been recorded recently in many European countries. Our contribution serves to formally report the first records of M. dorsalis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania and the first record of M. tonkineus in Montenegro, all found in 2021. Both species develop inside the hard seeds of the ornamental tree Gleditsia triacanthos. Mature G. triacanthos pods were collected from the ground in urban parks of Nikšić and Podgorica (Montenegro) and Tirana (Albania) in July 2021, and Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in August 2021. Fully developed beetles were recorded after two weeks. Megabruchidius dorsalis emerged from the pods collected in all locations, while M. tonkineus was reared only from the pods collected in Podgorica. Because in Podgorica both species were found in the same pods, this also represents confirmation that in some locations these species do co-exist. Overall, M. dorsalis was more widespread and abundant.
Ključne besede: alien species, invasive species, range expansion, Gleditsia triacanthos, Europe
Objavljeno v DKUM: 25.09.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 7
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