Invasion of the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) into Southeastern Kazakhstan

Abstract

The harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) is one of the most famous invasive beetles in the world. A map of 105 findings of H. axyridis in Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, and northwestern China was compiled based on the examination of museum collections (about 1000 spec.) and analysis of the published data. Southeastern Kazakhstan is not a part of the native range of the species. The history of expansion of H. axyridis into southeastern Kazakhstan was reconstructed. At the end of the XIX century and in the first half of the XX century, the species was recorded in Kazakhstan Altai but not in other regions of Kazakhstan. In the early 1960s and 1976 it was found in more southern territories of the Ayaguz and Aksu River floodplains. Later on, H. axyridis was recorded further south, in Trans-Ili Alatau, and became a common species in the vicinity of Almaty. The coloration of adults and genetic data indicate that the harlequin ladybird has migrated to Trans-Ili Alatau from Kazakhstan Altai or Western Siberia. There is a vast Balkhash desert between the native range of the species and Trans-Ili Alatau, through which the beetles could not have migrated by themselves. Judging by the finding localities and dates, the invasion corridor was formed by the railroad.