Distribution of Stink Bugs Species (Pentatomidae, Hemiptera, Insecta) in the Habitats of Tirana (Albania)

Abstract

This study presents a systematic and ecological analysis of the family Pentatomidae, commonly known as stink bugs (Hemiptera), in various ecosystems in the Tirana area of Albania. Biological material was collected between 2021 -2023. A total of 136 specimens were analyzed, representing 27 species and 19 genera. Among these, the genera Carpocoris, Holcostethus, and Stagonomus were the most representative, each comprising 3 species and accounting for a frequency of 11.11%. The habitats of the Iba station exhibited a higher species diversity compared to other stations, hosting 14 species (51.85%), while the Ndroq station harbored the fewest species, with 9 species (33.33%). According to the Jaccard index of similarity coefficient, the stations Dajt and Farka and Iba and Ndroq showed a higher similarity coefficient of 27.77% compared to other stations, indicating similar ecological factors between these habitats. Conversely, the Vora with Ndroq and Farka with Ndroq stations exhibited the lowest coefficient at 5%, indicating less ecological similarity between these stations.