Abstract
Abstract The western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hemiptera: Coreidae), feeds extensively on the seeds of conifer trees within both its endemic range west of the Rocky Mountains and its expanding introduced range throughout eastern North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Its damage to conifer seed challenges seed production in natural stands and in orchards that produce seed for forest regeneration and food. In summer 2023, hundreds of L. occidentalis adults were observed feeding on the berries of two cultivated blackberry, Rubus fruticosus Linnaeus (Rosaceae), vines on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The adults were observed over a period of approximately six weeks, and their stylets were seen penetrating drupelets and causing subsequent damage. Identification was confirmed based on morphological and molecular (CO1 DNA barcoding) methods. To our knowledge, this is the first verifiable report of L. occidentalis feeding on a Rosaceae host, suggesting the insect’s potential for damaging agricultural systems.
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