Aclees taiwanensis: first record of in the Russian Federation and incursion in Poland
The black fig weevil, Aclees taiwanensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) originates in Asia and is established in France and Italy (EPPO RS 2021/175). It was found on a fig tree in Germany in 2022 (RS 2023/082).
A. taiwanensis was first observed in 2023 on desiccated fig seedlings (Ficus carica) in a nursery in Sotchi (Southern Russia). The authors consider that the pest was likely introduced to the Black Sea coast of Russia from Southern Europe with plants for planting (Zhuravleva et al., 2025).
A. taiwanensis was also detected on an imported bonsai of Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia in Poland in 2024 a few months after its import. The tree died and the pest is not expected to overwinter in Poland (Mazur et al., 2024).
Sources
Zhuravleva EN, Zabaluev IA, Shoshina EI, Karpun NN, Kirichenko NI (2025) Инвазия чужеродного долгоносика Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Molytinae) на черноморское побережье России: биология и молекулярная генетика нового вредителя [Invasion by the alien weevil Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Molytinae) on the black sea coast of Russia: biology and molecular genetics of a new pest]. Russian Journal of Biological Invasions 2, 69-81.
Mazur MA, Grzywocz J, Żyła W (2024) First case of introducing the exotic weevil Aclees taiwanensis Kôno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae) in Poland. Polish Journal of Entomology 93, 1-4.