Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida

 

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2019

Citation

Anthony M. Deczynski The Palearctic flea beetle Epitrix pubescens (Koch) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) established in North America Insecta Mundi 0721: 1–5

Comments

Copyright held by the author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License,

Abstract

The Palearctic flea beetle Epitrix pubescens (Koch) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) is reported as established in North America. It is recorded in the United States from Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin, and in Canada from the Provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. The oldest records are from 1975. The species has been reported feeding on Solanum dulcamara L. (Solanaceae). Full distributional information and reference photos for identification are provided. Epitrix pubescens may have avoided detection for such a long time due to its size, difficulty of identification, and affinity for a weed rather than agricultural crops. The more than 40-year lag between arrival and discovery of an immigrant species illustrates the importance of routine biodiversity monitoring efforts and taxonomic works.

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