Citizen scientists significantly improve our knowledge on the non-native longhorn beetle Chlorophorus annularis (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Europe

By

Seidel, Matthias
Lüttke, Maren
Cocquempot, Christian
Potts, Katy
Heeney, Wil J.
Husemann, Martin

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021

Original Publication

BioRisk : biodiversity & ecosystem risk assessment

Volume

16

Pages

1--13

Subjects

Bamboo , Cerambycidae , Coleoptera , Hamburg , Insect , Invasion biology , neozoa , pest organism

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.16.61099

 

Abstract

The Asian bamboo borer Chlorophorus annularis is a beetle species that has been introduced in many countries globally. Originating in Southeast Asia, it can now be found in the Americas, South Africa, the Middle East, Australasia and Europe. The literature record of the species in Europe consists of findings of single individuals usually associated with imported bamboo products. A general European effort in surveying C. annularis was never undertaken, since the overall scientific consensus was that the species cannot establish here. Yet, recent records in Genk, Torhout (Belgium) and in Hamburg (Germany) do not seem directly associated with a recently imported product and hence may indicate otherwise. Such a shortfall in recording commonly imported, potentially invasive species may be counteracted through citizen science initiatives, allowing for continuous, high density monitoring. In this paper we present thirteen new records of the species from five European countries, including two new country records, mostly going back to interested citizen scientists.