First record of the invasive western conifer seed bug Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heteroptera: Coreidae) in Turkey

Abstract

Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann 1910 is known as the western conifer seed bug and is an important pest species in North America feeding on seeds of conifers. The overwintering adults enter households and factories and cause nuisance to people. This pest species has been introduced in Europe through transportation and spread rapidly over the continent after its first appearance in northern Italy in 1999. In Turkey it has been found in Edirne and Ki{dotless}rklareli (Lüleburgaz) in Turkish Thrace in October 2009 and in Novomber 2010, respectively, representing the first record of this alien Nearctic genus and species in the country. This study reports identification characters of the species, its host plants, details about its biology and a map of its most recent distribution throughout Europe. © 2011 NwjZ, Oradea, Romania.