Invasion Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910 (Heteroptera: Coreidae) in the conditions of Voronezh (Russia)

Abstract

The article presents new data on the distribution and acclimatization of an alien species of the American coniferous bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910) from the European part of Russia. This bug was discovered in the autumn of 2019 on the territory of the city of Voronezh in the Arboretum of the Voronezh State University of Forestry and Technologies. Currently, L. occidentalis spreads on the territory of Russia only in an urban environment, where it finds optimal environmental conditions (suitable temperature, humidity and shelter for winter locations). Surveys of a number of park and forest park zones, squares and separately growing coniferous trees conducted in 2019-2020 in Voronezh did not reveal the presence of this species. At the moment, in the conditions of the Voronezh region, the center of the spread of this bug is located only in the Arboretum of the Voronezh State University of Forestry and Technologies. In 2020, an increase in the number of the identified group of L. occidentalis was recorded. Further spread of the bug is predicted on the territory of Voronezh. At the moment, no danger to conifers in the European part of Russia from L. occidentalis has been identified and is not yet expected, but constant monitoring of the detected group is required.