First record of <em>Thaumastocoris peregrinus</em> (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) in the Middle East, with biological notes on its relations with eucalyptus trees

Tanya Novoselsky; Amnon Freidberg

Authors

Tanya Novoselsky The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. E-mail: tania@tauex.tau.ac.il
Amnon Freidberg The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel

Keywords:

Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Thaumastocoridae, bronze bug, biological invasion, invasive species, pests, new record, Eucalyptus, gum trees, Israel, Middle East

Abstract

We present the first Middle-Eastern record of Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé, an invasive pest that feeds and develops only on eucalyptus trees. This species was found in Israel for the first time in Eucalyptus camaldulensis stands in October 2014. A survey of several eucalyptus groves was conducted in Tel Aviv and its surroundings to assess the geographical distribution and host-plant associations of T. peregrinus. We summarize new and old data on this species, i.e., its identification, immature stages, biology, phenology, and damage caused to the host plant.

Cite as: Novoselsky, T. & Freidberg, A. 2016. First record of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) in the Middle East, with biological notes on its relations with eucalyptus trees. Israel Journal of Entomology 46: 43–55.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.58193

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6F0CB04C-A367-4123-8435-87D0F5A3482F