New occurrences of the ragweed leaf beetle (Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Hungary

Balázs Kiss,Jenő Kontschán,Gábor Bozsik,Viktor Kerezsi

doi:10.1556/038.2021.00134

Abstract

Abstract Fifteen new occurrences of ragweed leaf beetle (Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986) are presented from Hungary based on targeted faunistic investigations and the results of our call for citizen scientists. All records are concentrated on the nearby regions of Budapest, suggesting that the species was introduced to this northern central region of the country by human activity. The high number of new occurrences indicates that the species is steadily established in this region. In contrast, the natural dispersal from the neighbouring southern countries seems not to cross the Hungarian borders yet.

Highlights

Unauthenticated | Downloaded 01/28/22 09:33 AM UTCActa Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 56 (2021) 2, 181–185 specimens were collected in Northern-Italy and South Switzerland (Mu€ller-Sch€arer et al, 2014)
Fifteen new occurrences of ragweed leaf beetle (Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986) are presented from Hungary based on targeted faunistic investigations and the results of our call for citizen scientists
The species was collected in Slovenia in 2017 (Seljak, 2017); in 2018 and 2019, it was found in Croatia and Serbia (Zadravec et al, 2019; Petrovic-Obradovic et al, 2020)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica 56 (2021) 2, 181–185 specimens were collected in Northern-Italy and South Switzerland (Mu€ller-Sch€arer et al, 2014). The species was collected in Slovenia in 2017 (Seljak, 2017); in 2018 and 2019, it was found in Croatia and Serbia (Zadravec et al, 2019; Petrovic-Obradovic et al, 2020). In 2020, the ragweed leaf beetle was collected in Hungary in a southern district of Budapest (Soroksar), far from the known occurrences in the neighbouring countries (Horvath and Lukatsi, 2020). This geographically isolated record suggested a human introduction of the species to this area

RESULTS

DISCUSSION