History of the Biodiversity of Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) at the Black Sea Coast of the Russian Caucasus in the Last 120 Years—Does the Landscape Transformation and Establishment of Harmonia axyridis Have an Impact?

Abstract

Studies of the history of regional insect fauna are important for understanding the changes in ecosystems. We analyzed the dynamics of ladybird fauna at the main sea resort of Russia over a period of 120 years to determine the following: (1) what species disappeared and what species appeared during landscape transformation; (2) what alien species introduced for pest control have been observed to date; and (3) whether the establishment of the global invader Harmonia axyridis (Coccinellidae) caused the extinction of some ladybird species in the Caucasus. We examined specimens collected by us and 54 other collectors including specimens from old museum collections and detected 62 species, 50 of which were collected in recent years (2011–2020). Landscape transformation and recreational use have caused not a decrease but an increase in ladybird biodiversity. Twenty-nine of 34 species recorded before 1930 have been observed in the region to date. Twenty-three other species have spontaneously spread to the region between 1930 and 2020 because of the creation of suitable anthropogenic habitats or because of unintentional introduction. Rodolia cardinalis, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Lindorus lophanthae, and Serangium montazerii were released for pest control, and they occur in gardens and streets but not in natural habitats. Harmonia axyridis, which appeared approximately 10 years ago, is abundant in urban and natural habitats, but there is no evidence that it caused the elimination of any ladybird species.

Discovery of Serangium montazerii Fürsch (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) as a predator of Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Quaintance) (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) in Italy

“…Currently, S. montazerii , in addition to its area of origin of North India and Pakistan (Poorani, 1998, 2002), is reported from Iran (Biranvan et al, 2016; Fürsch, 1995; Hajizadeh et al, 2002; Mesbah et al, 2016), Russia (Bienkowski & Orlova‐Bienkowskaja, 2020; Izhevsky, 1990; Maslyakov & Izhevsky, 2011), Thailand (Poorani, 2002), Georgia (Booth & Polaszek, 1996; Migeon & Arabuli, 2022; Timofeyeva & Nhûan, 1978) and Syria (Booth & Polaszek, 1996). However, it should be ascertained whether the specimens classified as S. parcesetosum in the Aegean and South Mediterranean coast of Türkiye (Uygun et al, 1997; Yiğit, 1992), Israel (Argov, 1980; Halperin et al, 1995), Syria (Abboud & Ahmad, 1998, 2006), France (Malausa et al, 1988) and Uganda (Wamani et al, 2018) can be regarded as S. montazerii .…”

Aphidophagous ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and climate change: a review

“…For example Hippodamia (= Ceratomegilla ) undecimnotata (Schneider), a ladybird of central and southern Europe, has recently expanded its range northwards (Akkermans & Cuppen, 2020). It should be borne in mind, however, that ranges are not necessarily related to climate change but may also arise due to changes in land use, for example (e.g., Bieńkowski & Orlova‐Bienkowskaja, 2020), or a combination of factors. A case in point would be the spread of the conifer‐dwelling Harmonia quadripunctata (Pontopiddan) from the European continent through Britain (Majerus, 1994; Roy et al ., 2011): this might be attributable to climate change but could also be related to extensive planting of conifers in England in the 20th century (see Aldhous, 1997).…”

Rediscovery of Serangium montazerii Fürsch in Georgia and updated list of the Coccinellidae of Georgia

“…The species is reported from Sochi (Orlova-Bienkowskaja and Bieńkowski 2017) in high numbers(Orlova-Bienkowskaja et al 2018) and could be still present inGeorgia. Eight other species, released between 1935 and 1990, have not been reported since their introduction in Georgia, nor along the Russian Black Sea Caucasus coast(Bieńkowski and Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2020).…”