An adult Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera: Coreidae) parasitized in Portugal by the native Tachinid fly Elomya lateralis (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Abstract

Native to North America, the western conifer seed bug (WCSB), Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910 (Heteroptera: Coreidae), has been accidentally introduced into Europe, Africa, South America, and Eastern Asia, where it causes damage to pine seeds. Despite its economic importance, control methods are limited and inefficient, with biological control considered a promising strategy to limit its populations. Nevertheless, there is a surprising lack of information on the natural enemies of the WCSB in its invaded range. In this paper we report a new natural enemy found parasitizing an adult of L. occidentalis in Portugal, identified as Elomya lateralis (Meigen, 1824) (Diptera: Tachinidae) by morphological and molecular analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first time E. lateralis is reported parasitizing L. occidentalis. Future studies should evaluate if this is an isolated occurrence, or if E. lateralis will consolidate as a natural enemy of this exotic pest in Europe.