The Introduction and Establishment of Four Invasive Insect Species in Serbia

Abstract

Urban areas are often populated by specific species of insects, some colorful and appealing, such as ladybugs and butterflies, and others irritating as nuisance bitters or as vectors of pathogens of public health importance. Mosquitoes in urban areas often utilize habitats adjacent to human residences, while phytophagous insect species such as stink bugs often colonize ornamental plants and utilize human-made structures including houses as overwintering shelters. This article discusses the early detection and the current distribution of two invasive mosquito species, Aedes albopictus Skuse 1894 and Ae. japonicus (Theobald 1901), in Serbia, introduced in 2009 and 2018, respectively. From the first findings until today, regular monitoring has been carried out and the establishment of both species in the newly invaded areas has been confirmed. Both species can become nuisance species, especially at high population densities, but more importantly, they are capable of transmitting a wide variety of arboviruses of public health importance. This article also discusses two invasive stink bug species Halyomorpha halys Stål 1855 and Nezara viridula Linnaeus 1758, introduced in Serbia in 2015 and 2008, respectively. These two stink bug species have also been monitored, and the establishment of their populations in the country has been confirmed. Both species have caused damage to a wide range of crops and ornamental plants and sometimes become nuisance pests in urban areas.

Keywords: mapping; mosquito-borne diseases; mosquitoes; nuisance; stink bugs; urban zone.

Figure 1

An ovitrap with a tongue depressor substrate used for monitoring of invasive Aedes mosquito species (Kavran, 2022).

Figure 2

Ovitrap sites in Vojvodina (Kavran, 2022).

Figure 3

Distribution of populations of Ae. albopictus in Serbia from 2009 to 2022. (introduced = detected for the first time and afterwards only detected occasionally, mostly adult detections; established = multiple detections of all developmental stages throughout the season for at least two consecutive years at the same location; information from citizens were sent using email or Mosquito Alert app via high-quality photos).

Figure 4

Distribution of populations of Ae. japonicus in Serbia from 2018 to 2022. (introduced = detected for the first time and afterwards only detected occasionally, mostly adult detections; established = multiple detections of all developmental stages throughout the season for at least two consecutive years at the same location; information from citizens were sent using email or Mosquito Alert app via high-quality photos).

Figure 5

Adult H. halys, ready to overwinter in the urban area (Konjević, 2019).

Figure 6

Total number of H. halys specimens collected with five dead-in traps during four consecutive years.

Figure 7

Abundance of the brown marmorated stink bug (H. halys) per region in 2021.