New bug species in Poland! Another unusual sighting by our student
Belonochilus numenius, recorded in Wrocław and Legnica, is a species of bug native to North America that has been spreading rapidly in Europe for several years. It was spotted by our student!
The first reports of the presence of Belonochilus numenius on the continent date back to 2008 from Spain. Currently, the insect has been recorded in many European countries, and recent observations indicate its presence in Poland as well.
At the end of 2024 in Ostrów Tumski, Wrocław, Grzegorz Lewek, a student at the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University of Wrocław, spotted a single specimen of Belonochilus numenius on the wall of one of the townhouses. The discovery sparked research in the locations of plane plane trees, which are the main host for this species. As a result, the bug was found at thirteen sites, mainly on plane trees’ fruiting bodies and the walls of buildings in their vicinity. In addition, a breeding experiment was carried out at one of the sites, which confirmed the development of a new generation of insects.
The presence of Belonochilus numenius was also confirmed in Legnica, where it was found on two sites in the city centre. An interesting observation is that the insects are more likely to colonise the fruiting bodies of young, recently planted plane trees than of older specimens, suggesting that they may have been brought in with new plantings.
These observations highlight the role of transport in the expansion of alien species. In an era of globalisation, available transport channels that facilitate the movement of plants, food and other goods can lead to the unintended spread of organisms to new areas. The high probability of further expansion of Belonochilus numenius populations means that this species may appear in more Polish cities in the coming season.
Similar cases of invasion by alien bugs in Poland are not new. An example is the lime seed bug (Oxycarenus lavaterae), which has already been demonstrated in more than 300 sites since its first finding in 2014.
Belonochilus numenius prefers the fruiting bodies of plane trees, where it overwinters in the egg stage. It is also occasionally found on goldenrods, trillium ragweed, elm trees and willows. However, it does not pose a significant threat to the native flora.
The detailed results of the study on the occurrence of this species in Poland were published in the journal Heteroptera Poloniae – Acta Faunistica, and the publication was produced in collaboration with a recognised expert on bugs, Grzegorz Gierlasiński, and the tutor of the tutoring project, prof. dr hab. inż. Marcin Kadej.
Link to the article about Belonochilus numenius
– Researching, discovering and publishing, especially in the field of invertebrate fauna, gives me great satisfaction – admits our student. – The awareness that I am adding a small contribution to the knowledge of a given species, which in the future may constitute an important element for subsequent researchers in their publications, is extremely motivating for me – adds Grzegorz Lewek.
– Most of the species we write about in tutoring are poorly known – wonders Grzegorz Lewek. – It is often not even known where they can be found in Poland. It happens that when we start working on a given species, we have virtually no information about it. We recently published a paper on an insect that no one had written about for almost 100 years!
For students, reading and writing about these species is like discovering mysteries. – I am constantly learning something new, and when it turns out that we are dealing with something truly unique, there are huge emotions. At such moments, it’s hard to fall asleep, and plans for future field expeditions are immediately born in my head – he says.
Discovering and learning are the results of a well-chosen tutoring programme at the University of Wrocław. – In my case, the person of the tutor, prof. Marcin Kadej, is like a ‘lighthouse’ for me, helping me to choose the right path. From plans for the future to small decisions about formulating thoughts in a text, his support is invaluable. Together, we determine what is worth focusing on and what will be best for me in terms of my development. Through tutoring, prof. Marcin Kadej enables me to collaborate and connect with experts, which makes our joint work qualitatively better. I think that without all this, if I had started writing papers on my own, it would have been much more difficult for me to reach my current level of publication and to set specific goals that I am now aiming for – adds the young biologist.
Complied by Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz
Date of publication: 24.02.2025
Added by: M.J.
