DIGITALNA ARHIVA ŠUMARSKOG LISTA
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ŠUMARSKI LIST 11-12/2017 str. 40     <-- 40 -->        PDF

leaf-footed bugs due to the presence of a flattened, leaf-like expansion on the hind legs. It is up to 2 cm long and conspicuous in terms of coloration, characterized with reddish-brown body, transverse white zigzag line across the centre of its wings and leaf-like expansions of the hind tibiae (Fent and Kment 2011).
L. occidentalis feeds on developing seeds in cones of different conifer species, with a preference for Pinaceae. It can cause significant damage on seeds by reducing seed fertility (Fent and Kment 2011). In its native range, L. occidentalis is classified as pest in conifer seed orchards (Mitchell 2000) that has a direct impact in reduction in the yield and quality of conifer seed crops (Connely and Schowalter 1991; Bates 2000). As the weather cools in autumn, L. occidentalis searches for sheltered places suitable for hibernation and often hides in human dwellings. In some cases they can aggregate in large numbers and become nuisance to people in their homes (Wheeler 1992).
Western conifer seed bug is one of 16 alien Heteroptera species introduced in Europe, 10 of which originate from North America (Rabitsch 2010). This extremely invasive insect species was introduced to Europe in 1999. After first discovery in northern Italy, near Vicenza (Taylor et al. 2001) the species spread fast throughout the country, and from Italy to neighboring countries: e.g. Switzerland in 2002 (Colombi, Brunetti, 2002), Slovenia in 2003 (Gogala 2003), Croatia in 2004 (Tescari 2004). Few years later it was recorded at several other, quite distant localities, like Barcelona-Spain in 2003 (Ribes and Escola 2005), Le Havre-France in 2006 (Dusoulier et al. 2007), Weymouth-UK in 2007 (Malumphy and Reid 2007) and Ostend-Belgium in 2007 (Aukema and Libeer 2007). These discoveries are probably result of separate introductions, possibly via sea transport from USA, as all these observations were made in close proximity of local ports (in Le Havre insects were discovered in the shipment of oak from the USA) (Dusoulier et al. 2007). Within only 15 years the western conifer seed bug practically conquered the whole Europe. By 2013 it was reported as far as Portugal, England, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia (Fent and Kment 2011).
In short time L. occidentalis also has spread all over Balkan Peninsula, reaching European part of Turkey in 2009 (Fent and Kment 2011). It probably spread to the western Balkans from Italy, via Slovenia (Jurc and Jurc 2005) or Croatia. In Croatia the species was first recorded in 2004 (Tescari 2004) and spread fast, particularly in the southern Mediterranean