Filling the gaps in the distribution of an alien species: The case of the feather-legged fly Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the Western Palearctic

Abstract

The feather-legged fly, Trichopoda pennipes (Fabricius, 1781), is a parasitoid species introduced in several European countries over the last decades. This study provides new records for the presence of the tachinid in Mediterranean and Black Sea coastal areas. Four individuals were observed by the authors in Greece and Cyprus (2015-2019) and 11 additional records of the fly in Albania, Cyprus, Greece, Russia, and Turkey (2011-2019) were obtained from citizen science platforms. We provide the first records of the species on the aforementioned countries, contributing in the expansion of the current distribution range of the species. Current and future hypothetical expansion scenarios, as well as potential ecological implications are presented and discussed.

Revisiting the non-native insect fauna of Greece: Current trends and an updated checklist

“…In this study, additional records, published from January 2015 to 20 January 2021 (e.g. Davranoglou and Koutsoukos 2018;Leivadara et al 2018;Kalaentzis et al 2019;Demetriou et al 2020;Kazilas et al 2020), as well as previously overlooked publications (e.g. Mroczkowski 1965;Eliopoulos et al 2002;Koveos et al 2002;Gatt 2007;Martinou et al 2011), are also included.…”

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

“…The overwhelming majority of parasitic taxa are Hymenoptera (79%), mostly wasps combating agricultural pests of economic significance, such as the Neotropical braconid Apanteles subandinus Blanchard, 1947 tackling the common and destructive moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) (Georghiou 1977;Gerber and Schaffner 2016) and others discussed below. These are followed by just a few animal parasites in the orders Siphonaptera and Phthiraptera, as well as some parasitic flies, such as Trichopoda pictipennis Bigot, 1876 (Kazilas et al 2020;Dios et al 2021). Most of the predatory species belong to Coleoptera (50%) and ants (26%).…”

Alientoma, a Dynamic Database for Alien Insects in Greece and Its Use by Citizen Scientists in Mapping Alien Species

“…In Greece, citizen scientists and researchers have joined forces multiple times, reporting on the presence and distribution of alien insects. Nature enthusiasts have provided evidence for the first sightings of alien species in the country, such as the giant mantises Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, 1869 [47]; Sphodromantis viridis Forsskål, 1775 [48]; the lantana plume moth Lantanophaga pusillidactylus (Walker, 1864) [49]; the feather-legged fly Trichopoda pennipes (Fabricius, 1781) [50]; and the broad-headed bug Nemausus sordidatus (Stål, 1858) [51]. Additionally, citizen science records have depicted the expansions in the range of and updated distributions of alien insects such as Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910, reaching Crete [52] seven years after its initial discovery on the Greek mainland [53] as well as the box-tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) [54], where public participation unveiled the infestation of native box-tree stands [8].…”