Nearctic-origin
Guides
Acanaloniidae
Acanaloniid Planthoppers, Cone-headed Planthoppers
Acanaloniidae is a family of planthoppers in the superfamily Fulgoroidea, sometimes treated as a subfamily (Acanaloniinae) within Issidae. The family comprises approximately 7 genera including Acanalonia, Batusa, Chlorochara, and Philatis. Members are characterized by their distinctive cone-headed appearance and reticulate forewing venation. Several species have been introduced to Europe, including Acanalonia conica and Acanalonia bivittata, where they represent the first Nearctic representatives of this family.
Chymomyza amoena
A Nearctic drosophilid fruit fly native to eastern United States forests. It has established as an invasive species in Europe since its discovery in former Czechoslovakia in 1975, subsequently spreading to Switzerland, Italy, and German border regions. The species exhibits a distinctive ecological strategy: breeding in damaged or parasitized nuts and fruits rather than relying solely on fermenting substrates. This behavioral constancy for interspecies dependency—exploiting substrates pre-conditioned by other insects—has enabled it to occupy a vacant niche in European ecosystems.
Coptodisca
Coptodisca is a genus of small moths in the family Heliozelidae, established by Walsingham in 1895. Species are leafminers whose larvae feed internally on leaves of woody plants, creating distinctive blotch mines. Several species have become invasive pests in Europe, particularly C. lucifluella and C. juglandiella on walnut (Juglans) and related trees. The genus is native to the Nearctic region with approximately 20 described species.
Coptodisca juglandiella
Walnut Shield-bearer
Coptodisca juglandiella is a Nearctic leafminer moth in the family Heliozelidae, first described by Chambers in 1874. Native to North America, it was discovered in Hungary in 2019 as a new invasive species for Europe. The larvae feed internally on walnut leaves, creating distinctive blotch mines. Unlike its congener C. lucifluella, it has not undergone a host plant shift since introduction to Europe.
Coptodisca lucifluella
walnut shield bearer
Coptodisca lucifluella is a small leaf-mining moth in the family Heliozelidae, native to eastern North America and invasive in Europe since 2010. Larvae create distinctive blotch-shaped mines on walnut and hickory foliage, then construct oval silk-attached cases for pupation. The species has undergone a documented host shift in Europe, expanding from its native specialization on Carya (pecan) to primarily exploiting Juglans regia (common walnut) and occasionally other Juglandaceae. It completes 3–4 generations annually in Italy, with autumn generations producing substantially more mines than spring generations.
Obolodiplosis
locust gall midge
Obolodiplosis is a monotypic genus of gall midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, containing the single species Obolodiplosis robiniae. The genus was established by Felt in 1908. All biological information known for this genus derives from studies of its sole representative species.
Ozognathus
death-watch beetles, spider beetles
Ozognathus is a genus of beetles in the family Ptinidae, commonly referred to as death-watch and spider beetles. The genus contains at least 11 recognized species native to the Americas. One species, Ozognathus cornutus, has become established as an alien species in Europe and the Mediterranean region, where it colonizes woody galls and decaying organic matter. The genus is taxonomically placed in the subfamily Ernobiinae (or historically Anobiinae), reflecting its close relationship to other wood-associated beetles.
Scaphoideus
Scaphoideus is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae. The genus is best known for Scaphoideus titanus, the American grapevine leafhopper, which is the primary vector of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma, a serious disease of grapevines in European vineyards. Members of this genus are small, plant-feeding insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. The genus has a Nearctic origin, with S. titanus introduced to Europe approximately 150 years ago, likely via American rootstock material.
Zelus renardii
leaf hopper assassin bug, sundew assassin bug
Zelus renardii is a medium to large assassin bug native to western North and Central America that has become a successful global invader. The species is diurnal and employs a distinctive predatory strategy using sticky secretions from glandular setae on its forelegs to capture prey, earning it the common name 'sundew assassin bug.' It has been introduced to the Mediterranean basin, Pacific islands, Hawaii, Chile, Argentina, and Easter Island, primarily through human-mediated transport of nursery plants. The species is considered for biological control of agricultural pests but its generalist predatory habits create complex trophic interactions.