" The invasive species Coptodisca lucifluella, also called the walnut shield bearer is recorded for the first time in Romania in this report. It is a leaf miner of North American origin, having been discovered for the first time in Europe (Italy) in 2010. Since then it has been confirmed in other three European countries, Hungary (2017), Ukraine (2019) and Bulgaria (2020), and now in Romania. In its native habitats, the species is known to be specialized on woody plants from the family Juglandaceae, genus Carya, in particular the pecan nut tree, Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch. In the newly occupied territories in Europe, the moth was reported mainly on Juglans spp., especially J. regia (L.) (with very few instances on Juglans nigra (L.), Carya spp. and Pterocarya spp.). In August 2022, leaves of common walnut (J. regia) with mines of C. lucifluella were collected in Southern Romania (Bucharest, Ilfov and Giurgiu Counties) and Western Romania (Arad County). The walnuts were in cities, rural areas, alongside roads and walnuts spontaneously grown in vineyards, at altitudes from 60 to 200 m a.s.l."

The global phenomenon of biological invasion is a prevailing and important subject of research, with major negative social and economic consequences, representing a real threat for the native biodiversity of invaded countries. The main elements that favour the entering and spreading of invasive insect pest species into new territories are the intensive trade of goods between different regions, tourism and the on-going climate changes which are predicted to become more severe. Early detection and monitoring of the invasive organisms are essential steps of the foundation of an appropriate and efficient management. The problem of alien invasive species, especially those of agricultural importance, has been an on-going concern for the community of researchers at the Research and Development Institute for Plant Protection in Bucharest, Romania, who have made it the subject of numerous studies and research papers published and incorporated in national and international journals and projects.