First Report ofCampyloneura virgula(Hemiptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) in Connecticut

Abstract

The Old World dicyphine plant bug Campyloneura virgula (Herrich-Schaef fer) is known from most European countries, Algeria, Asia Minor and Turk estan (Kerzhner and Josifov, 1999). It was first reported as occurring in west ern North America (British Columbia) in 1949 (Downes, 1957). Collection records from Brit ish Columbia (1946, 1950), Oregon (1957-1979, 1982), Cali fornia (1964, 1969), and western Washington (1975-1979, 2008) were published by Lattin and Stonedahl (1984) and Henry (2012). Recently, the species has been documented in the eastern United States in Maryland (from 2007-2011), and Virginia (2011); in addition, a specimen was identified from Yonkers, New York, from a collection made in 1995. These recent records suggest that C. virgula is well-estab lished in the eastern United States (Henry, 2012). Campyloneura virgula is a predator of aphids, mites, psocids, psyllids, and other small arthropods, and is known to bite humans. It has been found on a large variety of plants (Aceraceae, Anacardiaceae, Betulaceae, Ericaceae, Fab aceae, Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Oleaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Tiliaceae, Ul maceae and Urticaceae). The species is known to overwinter as eggs in Eng land and as adults in Europe (Henry, 2012). In June 2012, Campyloneura virgula was collected for the first time in Con nec ticut (New Haven Co., North Haven). Six specimens were found on the leaves of a 70-year-old copper beech tree (Fagus sylvatica purpurea), a species upon which the mirid had not been reported previously in North America, although it had been collected on F. sylvatica in Europe (Downes, 1957). One speci men was observed feeding on honeydew, a behavior previously noted (Wheel er, 2001). Previous collections of this species in North America were made from June to August. All specimens collected in Connecticut were female. This is consistent with most past collections, and the species is known to be parth enogenetic (Carayon, 1989; Henry, 2012). The specimens were all collected by the author: 25 June 2012 – 1 female; 27 June 2012 – 1 female; 29 June 2012 – 4 females (one feeding on honeydew). The specimens from 27 June (1) and 29 June (3) have been deposited in the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Division of Entomology. Given its small size (length 3.80-4.20 mm) (Henry, 2012), this insect is not readily collected by hand (as was done for the current report), and recognition of species presence generally requires purposeful collection by beating or sweeping 76 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS