Forecasting the spread associated with climate change in Eastern Europe of the invasive Asiatic flea beetle, Luperomorpha xanthodera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Mattia Iannella, Paola D’Alessandro, Maurizio Biondi
Abstract
Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) is an Asian polyphagous fl ea beetle, introduced into Europe in 2003 (Johnson & Booth, 2004), the adults of which feed on fl owers and larvae develop on the roots of many plants (23 genera from 19 families) Numerous holes chewed by these beetles in petals and the destruction of the reproductive organs of fl owers may cause sterilization and deterioration in the aesthetic value of plants. L. xanthodera is easily and unintentionally introduced as larvae on roots of imported seedlings or as adults transported mainly as stowaways in the cargo in airplanes (Biekowski & Orlova-Bienkowskaja, 2018b) and then spreads like many other invasive species In fact, the trade in imported plants can accelerate the spread of this fl ea beetle, especially that in ornamental plants (Johnson & Booth, 2004;