New Record of Invasive Species, the Lime Seed Bug, Oxycarenus lavaterae Fabricius 1787 (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) in Romania

Abstract

Oxycarenus lavaterae Fabricius (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), the lime seed bug or the Mediterranean bug, is an invasive species in urban areas, which colonizes mainly the lime trees, Tilia spp. (Tilia cordata Miller, Tillia americana Linné, Tilia platyphyllos Scopoli, Tilia x europaea Linné, etc.) in parks, gardens and street alignments. The insects feeds on lime trees with seeds and form large aggregations on tree trunks. The bug is invasive, spreading from warm Mediterranian and Afrotropical regions to many european countries. Also is recorded on other plant species belonging to Tilliaceae and Malvaceae families, especially on shrubs and trees. The studies concerning the record and identification of lime seed bug were carried out in 2020-2023 in Cluj-Napoca (Romania). The insects have been observed on large groups as aggregation overwintering covered the trunks and branches of Tilia cordata Miller and than collected, identified, prepared and photographed with the corresponding description.