Leaf and Seed Beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Chapter 8.3

Abstract

The inventory of the leaf and seed beetles alien to Europe revealed a total of 25 species of which 14 seed beetles (bruchids) and 11 leaf beetles mostly belonging to the subfamilies Alticinae and Chrysomelinae. At present, aliens account for 9.4% of the total fauna of seed beetles in Europe whereas this percentage is less than 1% for leaf beetles. Whilst seed beetles dominated the introductions in Europe until 1950, there has been an exponential increase in the rate of arrival of leaf beetles since then. New leaf beetles arrived at an average rate of 0.6 species per year during the period 20002009. Most alien species originated from Asia but this pattern is mainly due to seed beetles of which a half are of Asian origin whereas leaf beetles predominantly originated from North America (36.4%). Unlike other insect groups, a large number of alien species have colonized most of Europe. All but one species have been introduced accidentally with either the trade of beans or as contaminants of vegetal crops or stowaway. Most aliens presently concentrate in man-made habitats but little affect natural habitats (<6%). Highly negative economic impacts have been recorded on stored pulses of legumes and crops but very little is known about possible ecological impact.