Europe-introduced
Guides
Aproceros
Aproceros is a genus of sawflies in the family Argidae, comprising ten recognized species native to eastern Asia. The genus gained international attention following the introduction of Aproceros leucopoda (elm zigzag sawfly) to Europe around 2003 and subsequently to North America in 2020. This invasive species has demonstrated rapid range expansion and significant defoliation capacity on elm trees (Ulmus spp.). Most Aproceros species remain restricted to their native East Asian ranges, with limited biological information available for the genus beyond A. leucopoda.
Argyresthia thuiella
arborvitae leafminer, thuja mining moth, American thuja shoot moth
Argyresthia thuiella is a micro-moth in the family Argyresthiidae, commonly known as the arborvitae leafminer. Native to North America, it has been introduced to Europe multiple times since 1971. The species develops one generation annually, with larvae mining the foliage and twigs of Thuja and Chamaecyparis species. Adults are active from May to July and have a wingspan of approximately 8 mm.
Bucculatrix ainsliella
Oak Skeletonizer Moth, Oak Leaf Skeletonizer
Bucculatrix ainsliella is a micromoth in the family Bucculatricidae, described by Mary Murtfeldt in 1905. It is native to North America and has been introduced to Europe, with first records from the Netherlands and Belgium in 2011. The species is notable for its distinctive larval feeding behavior on oak leaves, progressing from internal leaf mining to external skeletonization.
Megachile sculpturalis
giant resin bee, sculptured resin bee
Megachile sculpturalis is a large solitary leafcutting bee native to Japan, China, and South Korea. First detected in North Carolina in 1994, it has become established across much of eastern North America and has spread rapidly through Europe since its first detection near Marseille, France in 2008. Females are notably larger than males and use their powerful mandibles to collect plant resin for sealing brood cells. Unlike carpenter bees, M. sculpturalis cannot excavate wood and relies entirely on pre-existing cavities, particularly abandoned galleries of carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) in wooden structures.
Strauzia longipennis
sunflower maggot fly, sunflower maggot
Strauzia longipennis is a large tephritid fruit fly commonly known as the sunflower maggot fly. It is a minor agricultural pest whose larvae mine the stems of sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), causing typically light damage to spongy tissue. Unlike related sunflower-feeding tephritids, its larvae do not attack flower heads or seeds. The species exhibits notable morphological variability and may represent a complex of incipient species or host races.
Telmatogeton japonicus
Telmatogeton japonicus is a marine midge species described from Japan in 1933. It has been introduced to coastal areas of North America and Europe, where it has been recorded from the Wadden Sea and Belgian marine waters. The species belongs to the subfamily Telmatogetoninae, a group of chironomid midges specialized for intertidal and marine environments.