Is Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1855) range expanding westward? a new record for Italy might suggest this trend (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae)

Further distributional records of Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1854) (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) in Greece

“…The distribution of L. patruelis in the Peloponnese should be further investigated (especially in the wetlands of the western part of the peninsula), as it is presently particularly disjunct. This species has been reported to be expanding both westward and northward in other countries (Cianferoni & Nardi 2013;Lo Parrino 2019). Our observation of L. patruelis in Amorgos (Cyclades) might represent a specimen from Turkey (or another nearby island) that was carried by wind or sea currents, as this island appears to lack suitable wetland habitats.…”

“…Our observation of L. patruelis in Amorgos (Cyclades) might represent a specimen from Turkey (or another nearby island) that was carried by wind or sea currents, as this island appears to lack suitable wetland habitats. We should also not exclude the possibility that the Amorgos specimen may have been brought by tourist ferries or cruises, which have been proposed as possible transport mechanisms for the Italian populations (Cianferoni & Nardi 2013;Lo Parrino 2019). We conclude that L. patruelis is probably scarce and highly local in many parts of Greece, with only few records in southern Greece, but locally rather common in certain large lowland freshwater wetland areas, especially in northern and western Greece.…”

“…If L. patruelis indeed does occur in Romania, it will likely be found in the Danube Delta, or ports on the Romanian Black Sea coast, where they might be attracted by boat/ship lights. This species was recently recorded in Italy, likely reflecting a recent westward expansion (either natural or anthropogenic) (Bacchi & Rizzotti Vlach 2005;Cianferoni & Nardi 2013;Lo Parrino 2019). In Greece, despite its large size and high dispersal capabilities, sightings of L. patruelis are scarce.…”

Using citizen science to monitor non-native species: the case of Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) in Italy

“…Concerning Italy, individuals of Lethocerus patruelis have been found in the Abruzzi, Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria regions, in the southern portion of the peninsula (Cianferoni and Nardi 2013, Lo Parrino 2019, Castiglione et al 2021. It was suggested that Lethocerus patruelis might have reached Italy from the Balkan countries due to the ship traffic in the Adriatic Sea, and this claim was supported by the proximity of the earliest records to the major Italian Adriatic ports and by offshore observation of flying individuals attracted by ship lights (Cianferoni and Nardi 2013).…”

“…Concerning Europe, this species is known to be found in Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Crete, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey, and there are some unconfirmed records for Hungary (Aukema and Rieger 1995, Perez Goodwyn 3 2006, Bacchi and Rizzotti Vlach 2007, Grozeva et al 2013, Cianferoni and Nardi 2013, Dulcic et al 2015, Stoianova and Simov 2016, Corsini-Foka et al 2019, Davranoglou and Karaouzas 2021. Some of the most recent records suggest that Lethocerus patruelis range is expanding, particulary northwards (Grozeva et al 2013, Stoianova andSimov 2016) and westwards (Cianferoni and Nardi 2013, Lo Parrino 2019, Castiglione et al 2021.…”