Diario del proyecto Alien to Cyprus Entomofauna

🗺️ Native to Australia, Thaumastocoris peregrinus has managed to spread in Europe and the Mediterranean reaching among others Albania, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Spain, Syria and Portugal.

🏕️ During field surveys individuals of Thaumastocoris peregrinus were collected on Eucalyptus trees in Limassol and the Akrotiri UK SBA. The species exclusively lives on Eucalyptus trees causing leaf discoloration, which may even lead to the death of saplings.

🌱Given that Cyprus does not profit financially from Eucalyptus plantations, the economic impact of Th. peregrinus should be negligible in this country. However, reduced fitness of ornamental Eucalyptus spp. throughout the synergistic effects of other observed alien species (e.g. Glycaspis brimblecombei), not only harms the aesthetics of the urban landscape, but could also increase municipal costs for pesticides, trimming or cutting down infested trees

📖 Read more about the species below:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371991175_First_record_of_Thaumastocoris_peregrinus_Hemiptera_Thaumastocoridae_in_Cyprus

Demetriou J, Davranoglou LR, Makris C (2023) First record of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) in Cyprus. Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 66(1): 135-141. https://doi.org/10.3897/travaux.66.e90065

🤓 A new study on the spider beetles (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) reports on a total of 77 species for the island. Out of these, 6 are endemic and can only be found on Cyprus while 12 species are presumed to be alien (non-native).

☑️ Specifically:
(1) Gibbium psylloides (Czenpinski, 1778): Cryptogenic (i.e. of unknown origin).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbium_psylloides
(2) Lasioderma serricorne Fabricius, 1792: Native to some undetermined tropical or subtropical area.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasioderma_serricorne
(3) Mezium affine Boieldieu, 1856: Cryptogenic (i.e. of unknown origin).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezium_affine
(4) Nicobium castaneum (Olivier, 1790): Cryptogenic (i.e. of unknown origin).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicobium_castaneum
(5) Niptus hololeucus (Falderman, 1836): Cryptogenic (i.e. of unknown origin).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spider_beetle
(6) Ozognathus cornutus (LeConte, 1859): Native to North America.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozognathus_cornutus
(7) Sphaericus gibboides (Boieldieu, 1854): Native to the Western Mediterranean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaericus_gibboides
(8) Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus, 1758): Cryptogenic (i.e. of unknown origin).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drugstore_beetle
(9) Ptinus fur (Linnaeus, 1758): Cryptogenic (i.e. of unknown origin).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptinus_fur
(10) Ptinus exulans Erichson, 1842: Native to Australia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptinus_exulans
(11) Ptinus latro Fabricius, 1775: Cryptogenic (i.e. of unknown origin).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptinus_latro
(12) Ptinus tectus Boieldieu, 1856: Native to Australia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptinus_tectus

⚠️ Although information regarding the impacts on native biodiversity and socioeconomic aspects of the majority of non-native species remains mostly unknown, L. serricorne and P. fur are recognized as pest on stored goods (i.e., books, skins, wool, tobacco, wheat).

🔎 Have you observed any of these beetles or anything similar? Upload your observations to the iNaturalist platform and join our project.

📖 Find our publication here: https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5306.2.5
Zahradník P, Demetriou J (2023) A review of the Ptinidae (Coleoptera: Bostrichoidea) of Cyprus, including new faunistic records and the description of a new species. Zootaxa 5306 (2): 243-265. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5306.2.5

🌿 The Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa) is an Australasian fig tree species commonly planted in urban and semi-urban sites throughout the warmer parts of the world. Many tiny wasp species (also called fig wasps) develop in the figs of Ficus species, with increasing numbers of species native to Asia being recorded from the Mediterranean. These appear to influence the pace of colonisation of F. microcarpa. Assisted by its pollinator wasp Eupristina verticillata (Agaonidae), F. microcarpa often manages to colonise urban areas outside its native range and can invade natural habitats.

🐝 In Cyprus, this fig tree species is widely planted in city centres, town squares and parks. Surveys in Cyprus during the last 7 years have uncovered a total of 11 alien fig wasp species associated with F. microcarpa. Amongst them, two species are reported for the first time from the Western Palearctic: Sycophila petiolata Chen (Eurytomidae) and an undescribed species of uncertain generic affinity (Pteromalidae, Epichrysomallinae) that we refer to as “Eufroggattisca sp. indesc.”.

🛑 In contrast to the pollinator E. verticillata, other “non-pollinating fig wasps” have been identified as possible biological control agents of the invasive F. microcarpa that could slow its spreading. In Cyprus, only 3 out of 11 species are likely to be beneficial to the reproductive success of F. microcarpa, whereas all the remaining species will reduce the numbers of seeds or pollinating wasps produced by the tree.

🌱 Some establishment of the Chinese banyan in Mediterranean natural habitats has been reported although in Cyprus such instances have not yet been observed. Nevertheless, young trees of various alien Ficus species including F. microcarpa have been observed in the historical centre of Limassol, where they develop on sidewalks and wall crevices. Fig wasp communities of F. microcarpa in Cyprus are unquestionably in need of a thorough quantitative evaluation, with yearly monitoring which is the subject of an upcoming study.

📖 Find our publication here: https://tinyurl.com/yc8ee2jw

Demetriou J, Koutsoukos E, Mavrovounioti N, Radea C, Arianoutsou M, Roy HE, Compton SG, Martinou AF (2023) A rather unfruitful relationship? Fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the alien invasive Ficus microcarpa in Cyprus. BioInvasions Records 12(2): 573–580. https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2023.12.2.20

🦟 Zelus renardii is a polyphagous insect native to North and Central America. It was first reported outside its native range from Greece back in 2011 and has since then become widespread in Europe and the Mediterranean.

🗺️ On the 30th of November 2022 the insect was observed on ornamental plants in Old Strovolos (Nicosia). Since then no further nymphs or adults of Z. renardii were found despite repeated searches. However, an adult individual was spotted in Limassol on February 2023 (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148674689). As such, the species is probably much more spread than previously known.

🍎 The species is speculated to spread by human activity via plant nursery stock or imported fruit.

📖 Find out more about the species here: https://tinyurl.com/69vkan3s

John E, Kolokotronis D (2023) First record of Zelus renardii Kolenati, 1857 (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae) for Cyprus. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 159: 59–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.31184/M00138908.1591.4177

🐞 Invasive non-native species are one of the main drivers of global biodiversity loss. According to the most-recent review published by Demetriou et al. (2023), at least 349 non-native species of insects have been found on the island of Cyprus.

🏡 Most species (70%) have established viable populations on the island but further research is needed to confirm the presence of self-sustained populations for 25% of species. Although the way these species have reached the island is largely unknown, these are presumed to be transported as stowaways and contaminants on food and plants.

🐝 In total, 32 non-native species have been released as biological control agents against pests of potato, citrus and olive crops. However, the efficacy of these releases remains unknown for most species (71%). Further studies on the presence, efficacy and non-target effects of these species would be valuable for assessing their benefits and any impacts on native biodiversity.

⚠️ For almost half of the species (47%) no impacts have been recorded or no research has been conducted. 19 species cause negative impacts on native biodiversity whereas the socioeconomic impacts of 135 alien insects affect agricultural, horticultural, forestry and urban plants as well as stored products and infrastructure. Almost half (48%) of non-native insect species on the island feed on plants. More research on the impacts of non-native insects is needed.

📖 Find our article here: https://tinyurl.com/2fbb8422

Demetriou J, Radea C, Peyton JM, Groom Q, Roques A, Rabitsch W, Seraphides N, Arianoutsou M, Roy HE, Martinou AF (2023) The Alien to Cyprus Entomofauna (ACE) database: a review of the current status of alien insects (Arthropoda, Insecta) including an updated species checklist, discussion on impacts and recommendations for informing management. NeoBiota 83: 11-42. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.83.96823

🚩In the framework of the project DPLUS124, funded by the Darwin Initiative, we have set out to create information sources to raise awareness and develop alert/rapid response schemes for invasive non-native species likely to arrive and establish at SBAs.

📝As a result, we have compiled summary sheets for non-native species not yet detected on the island both in Greek and in English presenting these species' morphology, habitats and impacts.

🆘The presented species have been prioritized based on horizon scanning exercises performed on the island (Peyton et al. 2019, 2020) and updated lists of "invasive alien species of Union Concern" and the list of the "100 of the world's worst invasive alien species".

🔗Find out more at: https://ris-ky.info/invasive-species-and-biosecurity

📷Have you seen any of these species? Snap a photograph and upload it to iNaturalist!

Aethina tumida:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Aethina%20tumida.pdf
Anoplophora chinensis:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Anoplophora%20chinensis.pdf
Anoplophora glabripennis:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Anoplophora%20glabripennis.pdf
Cacyreus marshalli:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Cacyreus%20marshalli.pdf
Cydalima perspectalis:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Cydalima%20perspectalis.pdf
Daktylosphaira vitifoliae:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Daktylosphaira%20vitifoliae.pdf
Halyomorpha halys:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Halyomorpha%20halys.pdf
Harmonia axyridis:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Harmonia%20axyridis.pdf
Leptinotarsa decemlineata:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Leptinotarsa%20decemlineata.pdf
Linepithema humile:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Linepithema%20humile.pdf
Megachile sculpturalis:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Megachile%20sculpturalis.pdf
Phenacoccus peruvianus:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Phenacoccus%20peruvianus.pdf
Sceliphron caementarium:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Sceliphron%20caementarium.pdf
Solenopsis invicta:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Solenopsis%20invicta.pdf
Vespa velutina:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Vespa%20velutina.pdf
Xylotrechus chinensis:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Xylotrechus%20chinensis.pdf
Zelus renardii:
https://ris-ky.info/sites/default/files/2023-01/Zelus%20renardii.pdf

🗺️ The broad-headed bug Nemausus sordidatus is distributed mainly across Africa and the Near East, known only from southern Spain, Portugal and Sicily in Europe. Whether this species is native or alien in Europe remains undetermined, although according to Davranoglou et al. (2021) it probably it has been probably introduced to Europe since (1) its host-plants Acacias are not native to the region, (2) individulas are found in man-made habitats and (3) all European records are quite recent.

🌳 Nemausus sordidatus prefers arid habitats, where it feeds on several Acacia species, such as Acacia saligna in southern Europe. This Acacia species is frequently cultivated as an ornamental plant and has become invasive in both disturbed and natural habitats. One female individual was collected from a house wall by Mr C. Makris. After 5 years, J. Demetriou reared sprecimens from Valchellia farnessiana close to the initial locality of collection, uncovering the species' host plant in Cyprus (Demetriou unpubl.).

📖 Find out more about the species here: https://tinyurl.com/yeyn4u44

Davranoglou L-R, Cheiladakis N, Makris C (2021) First record of the broad-headed bug Nemausus sordidatus(Stål, 1858) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Alydidae) from Greece and Cyprus. Israel Journal of Entomology 51: 1-6. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4661939

🗺️ Despite its name, the species is not native to America! In its description, Linnaeus mistakenly assumed the specimen had been collected from America. The native range of the Rosemary beetle includes Mediterranean countries, (e.g. Albania, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Serbia, Macedonia, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey), although after 1936 it spread to many northern European countries (e.g. Belgium, United Kingdom, Austria, Netherlands, Latvia and Germany), as well as to Israel and recently Cyprus.

🐞 Chrysolina americana feeds on the leaves of plants in the family Lamiaceae, such as rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage and others. Some of these plants are commonly planted in house gardens and public spaces as well as cultivated commercially for cooking and as cosmetic aromatic ingredients. The rosemary beetle can cause damage to the foliage of these plants, and in cases where the beetle is abundant, it can cause negative economic consequences as it damages usable leaves, thereby reducing the harvested yields.

🌿From 2015 to 2020, multiple excursions and searched on social media were undertaken across the Island of Cyprus to locate C. americana. The species was recorded at all municipalities of Cyprus and in five host plants: Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula stoechas, Lavandula angustifolia, Salvia fruticosa and Salvia officinalis. From the recorded host plants, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula stoechas and Salvia fruticosa are native to Cyprus.

🆘 According to Hadjiconstantis and Zoumidis (2021), "the species can cause minor damage on the foliage of its host plants. Significant damage to the host plants has been reported only on a few urban locations and, in particular, at house gardens; these are cases where C. americana is abundant and has completely damaged the plant’s foliage. This behaviour could be linked to areas with well-maintained gardens, for example, in the absence of natural predators, the beetle can thrive and can potentially cause significant damage. At the moment, no such extreme case has been reported in commercial cultivations or protected areas, yet this behaviour of the species may cause significant problems to farmers in the near future".

📖 Read more about the species here: https://tinyurl.com/ydnc6wuf

Hadjiconstantis M, Zoumidis C (2021) First records of the pest leaf beetle Chrysolina (Chrysolinopsis) americana (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in Cyprus - a study initiated from social media. Biodiversity Data Journal 9(2): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.9.e61349

🗺️ Native to North America, Ozognathus cornutus has managed to spread in Europe and the Mediterranean reaching France, Germany, Gibraltar, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Portugal (Madeira), Spain (including Canary Islands), Switzerland, Tunisia and the United Kingdom.

🏕️ During entomological field surveys individuals of Ozognathus cornutus were collected on Eucalyptus trees. The ecology of O. cornutus is still rather unknown and the species has been recorded at a wide range of habitats including agricultural, coastal, urban and woodland areas.

🌱It is regarded as polyphagous, being associated with 38 different host plants. The beetle has been regarded as saproxylophagous, feeding on decaying plant tissues such as dried fruit and woodborers’ faeces in galleries as well as inhabiting galls of various insects.

📖 Read more about the species below: https://tinyurl.com/4a472ere

Demetriou J, Kakiopoulos G, Martinou AF (2022) First record of the Nearctic Ozognathus cornutus (LeConte, 1859) (Coleoptera: Ptinidae: Anobiinae) in Cyprus. Hellenic Plant Protection Journal 15(2): 76-79. https://doi.org/10.2478/hppj-2022-0009

🗺️ Native to North America, the turf-grass beetle Sphenophorus placidus vestitus has been accidentally transported outside its native range, reaching Eastern countries such as Iraq, Japan, Korea and
Qatar and in the Mediterrnanean, France (including Corsica), Greece, Morocco, Spain (including Canary Islands).

🐞 A single specimen was collected alive in Protaras, Ammochostos (Cyprus) by Mr Erodotos Kakouris within 10-20 m from the coast, on the surface of the sea. The specimen was identified by Mr Chistodoulos Makris and confirmed by Mr George Kakiopoulos. This constitutes the first report of S. placidus vestitus from the island.

⛳ As Protaras is a famous touristic resort situated along the coastline which maintains open areas covered by imported turf-grass, the specimen most probably originated from the coast of Protaras. As the main introduction pathway for the species has been related to the import of turf-grasses, an accidental introduction to the island via imported turf-grasses is hypothesized.

🆘 Sphenophorus placidus vestitus has been identified as a major pest of turf-grasses in both its native range and invaded countries, commonly found in golf courses and orchardgrass. The distribution of the species within Cyprus, the presence of established populations and any adverse economic impact on the island are currently unknown.

📖 Read more about the species here:
https://tinyurl.com/23tbbk4j

Kakouris E, Makris C, Demetriou J (2022) First record of Sphenophorus placidus vestitus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Dryophthorinae) in Cyprus. Hellenic Plant Protection Journal 15(2): 72-75. https://doi.org/10.2478/hppj-2022-0008