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First report of Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera: coreidae) feeding on Rubus (Rosaceae) fruit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2024

Joey B. Tanney Open the ORCID record for Joey B. Tanney [Opens in a new window] ,
Annie Dicaire Open the ORCID record for Annie Dicaire [Opens in a new window] ,
Esme John Open the ORCID record for Esme John [Opens in a new window] ,
Josie Roberts Open the ORCID record for Josie Roberts [Opens in a new window]  and
Ward Strong Open the ORCID record for Ward Strong [Opens in a new window]
Joey B. Tanney*
Affiliation:
Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 506 Burnside Road West, Victoria, British Columbia, V8Z 1M5, Canada
Annie Dicaire
Affiliation:
Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 506 Burnside Road West, Victoria, British Columbia, V8Z 1M5, Canada
Esme John
Affiliation:
Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 506 Burnside Road West, Victoria, British Columbia, V8Z 1M5, Canada
Josie Roberts
Affiliation:
Centre for Plant Health, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 8801 East Saanich Road, North Saanich, British Columbia, V8L 1H3, Canada
Ward Strong
Affiliation:
Independent Researcher, 7811 Westkal Road, Coldstream, British Columbia, V1B 1Y4, Canada
*
Corresponding author: Joey B. Tanney; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hemiptera: Coreidae), feeds extensively on the seeds of conifer trees within both its endemic range west of the Rocky Mountains and its expanding introduced range throughout eastern North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Its damage to conifer seed challenges seed production in natural stands and in orchards that produce seed for forest regeneration and food. In summer 2023, hundreds of L. occidentalis adults were observed feeding on the berries of two cultivated blackberry, Rubus fruticosus Linnaeus (Rosaceae), vines on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The adults were observed over a period of approximately six weeks, and their stylets were seen penetrating drupelets and causing subsequent damage. Identification was confirmed based on morphological and molecular (CO1 DNA barcoding) methods. To our knowledge, this is the first verifiable report of L. occidentalis feeding on a Rosaceae host, suggesting the insect’s potential for damaging agricultural systems.

Type
Scientific Note
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 156 , 2024 , e25
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Copyright
© Crown Copyright - His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources., 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of Canada

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Footnotes

Subject editor: Michelle Franklin

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