A NEW HOST SPECIES FOR THE ARTHROPOD CORYTHUCHA ARCUATA IN PERI-URBAN AREAS OF WESTERN ROMANIA.

One of the most recently reported arthropod species in Europe is the oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata (Insect Class: Order Hemiptera: Tingidae Family). Through this paper we aimed to highlight the adaptation of the insect on new plant species and the implications it has on it. Our study focused on a species very present in the decorative arrangements of gardens and green spaces, namely the Japanese quince (Chaenomeles spp.). The observations were made between April and October during 2020, in three green spaces and two private gardens in the peripheral areas of Timisoara or in the surrounding localities. Accidentally, the insect was reported on this plant, the previous observations being focused primarily on the species mentioned in the literature, in generally on Quercus sp. That is why we turned our attention to Japanese quince and watched the evolution of populations and damage to these plant species. From the observations of bushes from each space analysed, we found that the species is present in all these, in various population levels. Out of a total of 3230 individuals, most specimens found were adult forms associated with eggs, but also immature forms (larvae and nymphs) were found on plants. The first specimens were reported at the end of May, the maximums were recorded at the beginning of June and the last specimens were found at middle of October. Among the areas under study, shrubs in private gardens were by far the most attacked because the population level was also high. And the distance from the Green Forest, due to the presence of oak (which are favourite plants) was taken into account and, as a conclusion, we can say that in the spaces located less than 1 km from it the number of specimens was higher and farther (over 3 km) the fewer specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]