Expansıon Of Harmonıa Axyrıdıs (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccınellıdae) In South-Eastern Europe

Abstract

In this paper, we report the first records of the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) from Republic of Kosovo as well as new records from Albania, Greece, Montenegro and the Republic of North Macedonia. So far, the species is reported from 25 localities in Kosovo (first record in 2013) and 13 localities all over Montenegro. H. axyridis was found at different habitats and elevations, from sea level up to 1700 m above sea level, frequently being associated with seven coccinellid species. Our results clearly indicate that the harlequin ladybird is well established all over South-eastern Europe. Future studies should focus on its potential impact on native ladybird fauna. © 2022, Croatian Natural History Museum. All rights reserved.