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

Abstract

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