Invasive alien forest insect species in south-eastern Romania

Abstract

Biological invasions in forest ecosystems are recognised as a global scale challenge. However, our current knowledge of invasive alien forest insect species (IAFIS) in Romania is still lacking and rather insufficient to support clear policies. The aim of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of the distribution of IAFIS in the Muntenia and Dobrogea provinces of Romania. For this purpose, direct observations and insect collections were made two consecutive years, in 76 locations. Of these, 67 sampling locations forming a long field observation route were visited only once, and nine sampling locations were fixed monitoring points with primed traps used in first year for regular collection of insects at 1-2-week intervals. Seventeen non-native forest insect species from five orders and 11 families were detected: Aproceros leucopoda, Cameraria ohridella, Corythucha arcuata, Cydalima perspectalis, Dasineura gleditchiae, Eopineus strobus, Euura tibialis, Gilletteella cooleyi, Hyphantria cunea, Ips duplicatus, Macrosaccus robiniella, Neoclytus acuminatus, Obolodiplosis robiniae, Parectopa robiniella, Phyllonorycter issikii, Prociphilus fraxinifolii and Xylosandrus germanus. Eleven IAFIS species originate from North America, four from Asia and two from Europe. All detected species were previously reported from Romania, but eight species had not been recorded in these two provinces. Seven species live on native tree species, while 10 thrive on exotic trees or shrubs. The highest number of IAFIS was recorded in urban areas. Except for E. tibialis, all found IAFIS have a significant ecological or economic impact across invaded habitats. The risks posed by biological invasions need more thorough consideration that deserves greater attention and scientific support.

Study on the Ecology, Biology and Ethology of the Invasive Species Corythucha arcuata Say, 1832 (Heteroptera: Tingidae), a Danger to Quercus sp. in the Climatic Conditions of the City of Sibiu, Romania

“…From 2016, was reported in other European countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and Ukraine [48,[50][51][52][53][54]. [19,20]; 2002-Switzerland [21,22]; 2003-Turkey [9,23,24,[25][26][27][28]; 2005-Iran [28]; 2009-Poland [29]; 2012-Bulgaria [30,31]; 2013-Hungary [32,[34][35][36][37]; 2013-Croația [39]; 2013-Serbia [40][41][42]; 2015-Russia [24,[43][44][45][46][47]; 2015-Romania [52,62,64,65,[67][68][69][70]; 2016-Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and Ukraine [48,50,51,[53][54]; 2017...…”

“…In Romania, invasions of some non-native insect species are becoming a big problem because they represent a threat to biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems [62]. OLB was first observed in 2015, in the 'Pavel Covaci' University Botanical Garden in Macea [51] and later, on October 20, 2015, in Arad [63].…”

“…During 2016, OLB was found in other west locations, in Timișoara city and Denta [63], in Dolj county (in Craiova and Balasan) and in Ciolănești, Teleorman county [66]. From the studies carried out between 2016-2022, by the National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry 'Marin Dracea' specialists [62,64,65,[67][68][69][70], OLB was reported in 67 of the 124 locations studied, mainly in West, Central and South part of Romania (Figure 2). In recent years, it has been reported in more areas of Romania where the host species are: Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q.cerris, Q. frainetto and Q. pubescens but also on Ulmus minor, Tilia platyphyllos, Tilia tomentosa and Prunus cerasifera [66].…”

Study on the Ecology, Biology and Ethology of the Invasive Species Corythucha arcuata Say, 1832 (Heteroptera: Tingidae), a Danger to Quercus spp. in the Climatic Conditions of the City of Sibiu, Romania

“…In Romania, invasions of some non-native insect species are becoming a big problem because they represent a threat to biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems [62]. OLB was first observed in 2015 in the 'Pavel Covaci' University Botanical Garden in Macea [51] and later, on 20 October 2015, in Arad [69].…”

“…During 2016, OLB was found in other west locations, in Timis , oara city and Denta [69], in Dolj county (in Craiova and Balasan) and in Ciolănes , ti, Teleorman county [70]. From the studies carried out between 2016 and 2022 by the National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry 'Marin Dracea' specialists [62][63][64][65][66][67][68], OLB was reported in 67 of the 124 locations studied, mainly in West, Central and South part of Romania (Figure 2). In recent years, it has been reported in more areas of Romania where the host species are as follows: Quercus robur L., Q. petraea (Matt.)…”