Andrzej O. Bieńkowski

The life cycle of the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis in European Russia and comparisons with its life cycles in Asia and North America

Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), native to Asia, is a destructive invasive pest of ash Fraxinus spp. in U.S.A., Canada and European Russia. It is spreading quickly and will probably soon be detected in other European countries. Information about the life cycle of the pest is needed for detection and survey efforts, development of control options and predicting the potential range in Europe. The life cycle has been studied in North America and Asia, although it has not previously been studied in European Russia. The number of larval instars and the duration of development of A. planipennis in European Russia were determined. Distributions of width of epistome and length of urogomphi indicated four larval instars. The number of excretory ducts and the presence of ledges did not provide a clear differentiation between instars. Development in most of the specimens took 2 years. Generation time is flexible. In warmer regions (Tianjin), most individuals finish development in 1 year, whereas, in colder regions (Moscow, Changchun, Harbin), it takes 2 years. In intermediate climatic regions (Michigan), the ratio of 1 : 2‐year life cycles depends on additional factors. The flexibility of the life cycle allows A. planipennis to establish in regions with different climates.

Trophic specialization of leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in the Volga Upland

Observations in nature and in captivity revealed that Altica brevicollis feeds on Corylus avellana* l., A. lythri on Epilobium l., Aphthona czwalinae on Euphorbia l., A. nigriscutis on the inflorescence envelope of Euphorbia glareosa, Cassida nebulosa on Chenopodium l., C. nobilis on Atriplex l., C. panzeri on Lactuca tatarica* l., C. rubiginosa on Carduus* l., C. vibex on Centaurea* l., C. viridis on Lycopus l., Chaetocnema breviuscula on Chenopodium l., Cheilotoma musciformis on Rumex l., Chrysolina limbata russiella on Plantago lanceolata l., Ch. marginata on Achillea millefolium l., Ch. sturmi on Glechoma hederacea l., Clytra laeviuscula on Salix l., C. quadripunctata on l. of Salix and Rumex, Colaphus hoeftii on l. and f. of Sisymbrium loeselii*, Crioceris duodecimpunctata and C. quatuordecimpunctata on Asparagus officinalis l., Cryptocephalus apicalis on Artemisia l., C. bipunctatus on Trifolium pratense f., C. cordiger on Rosa l., C. laetus on f. of Taraxacum serotinum and Inula, C. quatuordecimmaculatus on Genista tinctoria l., C. schaefferi on Ulmus l., C. sericeus on Salvia l. and Cichorium intybus f., C. violaceus on Taraxacum officinale f., C. virens on Salvia l., Derocrepis rufipes on Trifolium pratense l., Entomoscelis adonidis on l. of Adonis vernalis and f. of Brassicacea, Epitrix pubescens on Solanum dulcamara l., Chrysochus asclepiadeus on Vincetoxicum l., Galeruca pomonae on Arctium* and Salvia* l., Galerucella aquatica on Rumex l., G. calmariensis on Lythrum salicaria* l., G. lineola on Salix l., G. luteola on Ulmus pumila* l., G. pusilla on Epilobium l., Gastrophysa polygoni on Polygonum aviculare and Rumex l., Hypocassida subferruginea on Convolvulus* l., Labidostomis pallidipennis on Salix l., Leptinotarsa decemlineata on Hyoscyamus niger l., Lilioceris merdigera on Polygonatum and Convallaria majalis l., Longitarsus anchusae on Cynoglossum officinale l., L. lycopi on Glechoma hederacea l., L. nigrofasciatus on Scrophularia nodosa l., L. obliterates on Salvia verticillata and S. nemorosa l., L. pellucidus on Convolvulus arvensis l., Phaedon armoraciae on Veronica beccabunga* and V. longifolia* l., Phyllotreta procera on Reseda lutea l., Podagrica menetriesi on Althaea officinalis l., Prasocuris phellandrii on l. of Ranunculus sceleratus*, Cirsium* and Lycopus*, Psylliodes affinis on Solanum dulcamara l., P. attenuates on l. of Cannabis sativa and Humulus lupulus, P. dulcamarae on Solanum dulcamara l., P. reitteri on Phalaroides arundinacea l., Pyrrhalta viburni on Viburnum opulus l., and Smaragdina affinis on Salix l. The host plant is marked with an asterisk if the larvae of the respective leaf-beetle have been reared to adults. Abbreviations: l.—leaves, f.—flowers.

New data on the composition and distribution of the genus Leptomona Bechyné, 1958 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

The leaf-beetle Leptomona russica (Gmelin, 1790) known from the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, and Middle Asia was found in Orenburg Province for the first time. It is the first record of this species from Europe and the first record of the genus Leptomona from European Russia. The diagnostic characters of the two Russian Leptomona species are included.

Woolly ash aphid Prociphilus fraxinifolii (Riley, 1879) (Hemiptera: Eriosomatidae), a new invasive alien pest of ash trees (Fraxinus) in Russia.

Woolly ash aphid or ash leaf curl aphid Prociphilus fraxinifolii (Riley, 1879) is an alien invasive pest of ash trees native to North America. After its first record in Europe in 2003 in Hungary it has spread to the Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Spain, Poland and Germany. In 2016 P. fraxinifolii was firstly recorded at the southwestern border of Russia. Now Prociphilus fraxinifolii is firstly recorded in the center of European Russia, namely in Moscow Region, which is more than 700 km far from all other known localities of the species. In September 2017 five groups of ash trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) with colonies of Prociphilus fraxinifolii were found in Moscow Region. The example of Prociphilus fraxinifolii shows that alien pest insects can spread in Europe very quickly. Now Moscow region is the only regions of Europe, where the expanding range of Prociphilus fraxinifolii has overlapped with expanding ranges of other invasive alien species established in Europe in the last 20 years and severely damaging ash trees: ash dieback fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus Baral et al., 2014 (Ascomycota) and emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae).

Co-invasion of the ladybird Harmonia axyridis and its parasites Hesperomyces virescens fungus and Parasitylenchus bifurcatus nematode to the Caucasus

Study of parasites in recently established populations of invasive species can shed lite on sources of invasion and possible indirect interactions of the alien species with native ones. We studied parasites of the global invader Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in the Caucasus. In 2012 the first established population of H. axyridis was recorded in the Caucasus in Sochi (south of European Russia, Black sea coast). By 2018 the ladybird has spread to the vast territory: Armenia, Georgia and south Russia: Adygea, Krasnodar territory, Stavropol territory, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia. Examination of 213 adults collected in Sochi in 2018 have shown that 53% of them are infested with Hesperomyces virescens fungi (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) and 8% with Parasitylenchus bifurcatus nematodes (Nematoda: Tylenchida, Allantonematidae). Examined H. axyridis specimens were free of parasitic mite Coccipolipus hippodamiae. An analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of Parasitylenchus bifurcatus based on 18S rDNA confirmed the morphological identification of this species. Hesperomyces virescens and Parasitylenchus bifurcatus are firstly recorded from the Caucasus and Russia, though widespread in Europe. It probably indicates that they appeared as a result of co-invasion with their host. Harmonia axyridis was released in the region for pest control, but laboratory cultures are always free of H. virescens and P. bifurcatus. Therefore, detection of H. virescens and P. bifurcatus indicates that population of H. axyridis in the Caucasus cannot derive exclusively from released specimens. We did not find H. virescens on 400 specimens of 31 other ladybird species collected in the same localities with H. axyridis in the Caucasus. No reliable correlation between infestation by H. virescens and P. bifurcatus has been found. Besides these two parasites an unidentified species of the order Mermithida is recorded. It is the first documented case of H. axyridis infestation by a parasitic nematode of this order in nature.

Alien leaf beetles of European Russia: native ranges, invasion history, biology and vectors of dispersal

Invasions of leaf beetles are of great ecological and economic significance, but poorly studied. The rate of these invasions in Europe is dramatically increasing. Some established species spread quickly occupying almost the whole continent within several decades. We present the first inventory of alien leaf beetles of European Russia. For each species the map of distribution is provided and the history of invasion in the world is discussed. Two species native to Mediterranean Region: Chrysolina americana (pest of Rosmarinus and Lavandula) and Leptomona erythrocephala feeding on Lotus corniculatus are recorded in European Russia for the first time. A polyphagous pest of floriculture Luperomorpha xanthodera native to China and Korea and pest of soybeans Medythia nigrobilineata native to East Asia were recorded in 2016. A pest of tobacco Epitrix hirtipennis native to North America was recorded in 2013. A pest of corn Diabrotica virgifera was intercepted at the border of Russia in 2011, but is not established. Three alien species were recorded in the 20th century: Zygogramma suturalis introduced from North America for control of Ambrosia, Phyllotreta reitteri native to Afghanistan and Tajikistan and feeding on Lepidium latifolium, and the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata. The Black Sea region is more prone to leaf beetle invasions than other regions of European Russia. Leaf beetles usually occur only on alien or cultivated plants. Some species feed on native plants in native communities. So it is difficult to distinguish species established before the 20th century from native ones.

Alien leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of European Russia and some general tendencies of leaf beetle invasions

Invasions of leaf beetles can cause tremendous economic consequences because some of these insects become major pests in invaded territories. We present the first inventory of alien Chrysomelidae of European Russia that appeared in the region in the 20th and 21st centuries (9 species) with analysis of the history of their invasions and detailed maps of distribution. This case study revealed some general tendencies of invasions of leaf beetles: (1) Recently, a dramatic increase in the rate of Chrysomelidae invasions is observed, which reflects the increase in international trade of living plants; (2) Alien leaf beetles can spread quickly, occupying almost all of Europe within several decades; (3) When the range of some leaf beetle species is quickly expanding, or when the species has been recorded established somewhere outside the native range, this species should be regarded as a potential invader worldwide. and (4) Alien leaf beetles usually occur on alien or cultivated plants, but some become naturalized in native communities. The specific information was the following. Two species native to the Mediterranean region, Chrysolina americana (feeds on Rosmarinus and Lavandula) and Leptomona erythrocephala (feeds on Lotus corniculatus) were recorded in European Russia for the first time. A polyphagous pest of floriculture Luperomorpha xanthodera native to China and Korea and a pest of soybeans Medythia nigrobilineata native to east Asia have been in the region since 2016. A pest of tobacco Epitrix hirtipennis native to North America has occurred since 2011. A pest of corn Diabrotica virgifera was intercepted at the border of Russia in 2011 but has not established. Three alien species have been in the region since the 20th century: Zygogramma suturalis introduced from North America for control of Ambrosia, Phyllotreta reitteri native to Afghanistan and Tajikistan and feeding on Lepidium latifolium, and the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata.

Modeling long-distance dispersal of emerald ash borer in European Russia and prognosis of spread of this pest to neighboring countries within next 5 years

Abstract Aim To develop an approach to model the spatial dynamics of emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in European Russia. This tree‐killing pest was detected in Moscow 15 years ago and began to spread, posing a threat to ashes all over Europe. The aim was to determine its probable current range and to evaluate the probability of its dispersal to neighboring countries within the next 5 years. Location Cities and transport hubs of European Russia and neighboring countries. Ash trees in this region occur mainly in urban plantations and along highways. Methods Pairwise distances between all locations were used as the main parameter determining the probability of pest spread. For each location, the probability of detection of A. planipennis was calculated using three simulation recurrent models of long‐distance dispersal. Parametrization was made by comparison with results of surveys in 2003–2015. Field data on the range of A. planipennis in 2016‐2017 were mapped and used for model verification. A prognosis of spread of the pest by 2022 was made. Results A model based on fat‐tailed kernel corresponds to both negative and positive results of surveys. According to the model, the current range is likely to be restricted to Russia, but probability of detection of the pest in the east of Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania by 2022 is 15%–40%. Main conclusions The forestry services of neighboring countries probably have about 5 years to prepare for the invasion of this pest, but regular surveys are necessary, since the pest can appear at any time. The case considered shows that the simple approach based on a fat‐tailed kernel and just one parameter—pairwise distance between cities—can be used for modeling long‐distance dispersal of alien pests of urban plantations.

A review of the leaf-beetle genus Chrysolina Motschulsky (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) from Russia and European countries of the former USSR. III. Remarks on the systematics and distribution of the species

Chrysolina didymata (Scriba, 1791) is repeatedly recorded from Ukraine (Kamianets-Podilskyi), Ch. cuprina (Duftschmid, 1825) is recorded from the South Urals (Bashkiria) for the second time, Ch. oirota Lopatin, 1990 is recorded from Russia (W. Altai), Ch. staphylaea sharpi (Fowler, 1890) is recorded from Russia (the Kandalaksha Bay coast) for the first time. The presence of Ch. roddi in Lipetsk Province (the Galichia Gora Nature Reserve) is confirmed after the finding of three males. The host plant of this species is found to be Seseli intermedia. Chrysolina daghestanica (Reitter, 1912) is synonymized with Ch. cuprina (Duftschmid, 1825); Ch. dudkoi ivanovskiana Mikhailov, 2000 is synonymized with Ch. dudkoi dudkoi Mikhailov, 2000; Ch. tolli kodarensis is synonymized with Ch. cavigera pirka Takizawa, 1970. The infrasubspecific rank of the variety Ch. hyrcana var. cyanescens Jacobson, 1894 is confirmed. The neotype of Ch. sahlbergii (Ménétriés, 1832) is designated. The systematic position of Ch. arctoalpina Mikhailov, 2006, Ch. kholsunica Mikhailov, 2001, Ch. kuznetzowi (Jacobson, 1897), Ch. soiota khakassa Mikhailov, 2002, Ch. cuprina dilecta Bechyné, 1952, Ch. poretzkyi (Jacobson, 1897), Ch. seriepunctata (Weise, 1887), and Ch. ambulans (Faldermann, 1835) is discussed. The authorship and date of the original publication of one name are improved, namely: Chrysomela discipennis Ménétriés, 1848.