First confirmed report of Erthesina fullo in Albania
Since March 2017, an unusual stink bug species has been observed in Albania in several localities close to the cities of Tirana and Durrës. Preliminary observations suggested that the insect was most probably Erthesina fullo (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae – yellow spotted stink bug), but the insect identity could not be firmly confirmed (see EPPO RS 2020/170). Several specimens could subsequently be examined, and the species found in Albania was confirmed to be E. fullo. Specimens were collected in a garden located in Durrës on the bark of Tilia cordata (August 2020) and on Ziziphus jujuba (September 2020). These results also indicated that E. fullo is established in Albania and can develop on some plants already present, such as T. cordata and Z. jujuba. This first record of E. fullo in Albania is also the first record in the EPPO region.
As already explained in EPPO RS 2020/170, E. fullo originates from Asia and presents many similarities with Halyomorpha halys in its biology and behaviour. E. fullo is a highly polyphagous species which can feed on several economically important tree species (fruit trees, forest and ornamental trees). In the framework of the EU project (DROPSA), E. fullo had been identified as posing a potential risk to Europe on fruit crops. A geographical distribution and a preliminary list of host plants can be viewed on the EPPO Global Database: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/ERTNFU
Sources
Lupoli R, van der Heyden T, Dioli P (2021) Confirmation of Erthesina fullo (Thunberg, 1783) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Albania and its host plants. Heteroptera Poloniae – Acta Faunistica 15, 101-102. https://zenodo.org/record/4918310