Western conifer seed bugs in Sussex

[Patrick Roper]

An alien species from North America, the western conifer seed bug,
Leptoglossus occidentalis, has recently been reported from Hastings in East
Sussex and Pagham in West Sussex and there may have been other recent
sightings.  The British Bugs web site gives full details and pictures here:
 
http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Coreidae/leptoglossus_occidentalis
.html
 
This site says, among other things:
 
"This species is native to north America, and was introduced into Europe in
1999.  It has since spread rapidly, and during the autumn of 2008 an influx
of immigrants was reported from the coast of southern England.  A wide
scatter of inland records also suggested arrival via timber shipments.  The
bug feeds on pines and may become well-established here.  It is regarded as
a pest and currently all sightings should be reported to DEFRA.  It is
attracted to light and may also enter buildings in search of hibernation
sites."

Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre would be grateful for details of any
sightings.

Patrick Roper
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre: Special Species Inventory

[Michael Blencowe]

Hi Patrick,

There has been an influx of Western Conifer Seed Bugs into East Sussex
recently, especially over the past week, as noted by members of the
Sussex Moth Group

This species first started appearing in sussex moth-er's traps in 2008
- I believe the first British record was from Weymouth in 2007.

On August 31st 3 were recorded in Bexhill and 5 at Newhaven. It is
assumed that these are new immigrants and not offspring from the 2008
'invasion'.

I have encouraged moth group members to send their records into SxBRC
to help monitor the spread of this species.

I caught my first WCSB on August 23rd this year and gave it to Henri
Brocklebank for a birthday present.

I have caught a further 3 at Friston since then, the last being on 30th
August whilst trapping in a neighbours garden. I showed her 5 year old
son our latest invasive insect and told him that it had originally come
 from the Pacific coast of North America and has arrived in England via
Italy. "He must be tired" he said.

I have a feeling that this is the kind of story that I could receive
£10 for if I send it to Woman's Weekly.

Michael








-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Roper <patrick@...>
To: 'Adastra discussion group' <adastra@...>
Sent: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 12:47
Subject: [Adastra] Western conifer seed bugs in Sussex



An alien species
 from North America, the western conifer seed bug,
Leptoglossus occidentalis, has recently been reported from Hastings in
East
Sussex and Pagham in West Sussex and there may have been other recent
sightings.  The British Bugs web site gives full details and pictures
here:

http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Coreidae/leptoglossus_occidentalis
.html

This site says, among other things:

"This species is native to north America, and was introduced into
Europe in
1999.  It has since spread rapidly, and during the autumn of 2008 an
influx
of immigrants was reported from the coast of southern England.  A wide
scatter of inland records also suggested arrival via timber shipments.  
The
bug feeds on pines and may become well-established here.  It is
regarded as
a pest and currently all sightings should be reported to DEFRA.  It is
attracted to light and may also enter buildings in search of hibernation
sites."

Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre would be grateful for details of any
sightings.

Patrick Roper
Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre: Special Species Inventory

[Nick Gray]

Patrick,

My 8 year old son captured a fine specimen of Leptoglossus occidentalis in our bathroom today 28/10/09  at West Wittering PO20 8LY (SU 780 987) (see poor quality photo attached).

We still have the bug so to speak!

Western+Conifer+Seed+Bug+-+Leptoglossus+occidentalis+2.JPG

Nick Gray

Western conifer seed bugs in Sussex
Sep 02, 2009; 12:47pm — by    Patrick Roper  

An alien species from North America, the western conifer seed bug,
Leptoglossus occidentalis, has recently been reported....

[Nick Gray]

This grid ref. should read SZ 780 987.
 
Nick Gray.


Patrick,

My 8 year old son captured a fine specimen of Leptoglossus occidentalis in our bathroom today 28/10/09  at West Wittering PO20 8LY (SU 780 987) (see poor quality photo attached).

We still have the bug so to speak!

Western+Conifer+Seed+Bug+-+Leptoglossus+occidentalis+2.JPG

Nick Gray

Patrick Roper wrote:

Western conifer seed bugs in Sussex
Sep 02, 2009; 12:47pm — by    Patrick Roper  

An alien species from North America, the western conifer seed bug,
Leptoglossus occidentalis, has recently been reported....