New records of non-native Coleoptera in Italy

Abstract Background In the last decades, climate change and globalisation have been exacerbating the introduction of non-native beetles worldwide. Due toits peculiar territory, climate and geographical position in the middle of the Mediterranean Basin, Italy is one of the European countries with the highest number of intercepted, adventive and established non-native beetles, some of which are invasive. In this perspective, producing new faunistic records and continuously updating reliable and easily accessible distributional data is a fundamental step in investigating and potentially preventing further species introduction. New information The aim of this contribution is to report and discuss new faunistic records of non-native Coleoptera in Italy. For some species, new records enlarge the previously-known distribution (e.g. the ambrosia beetles Anisandrusmaiche (Kurentzov, 1941) and Cnestusmutilatus (Blandford, 1894) or the click beetle Monocrepidiusposticus (Eschscholtz, 1829)), while for others (e.g. the scarab beetle Archophileurusspinosus Dechambre, 2006), data confirm their establishment and highlight a possible expansion phase. The false powderpost beetles Ptilineurusmarmoratus (Reitter, 1877) and the longhorn beetle Xylotrechuschinensis (Chevrolat, 1852) are two new additions to the Italian fauna, while the establishment of the monotomid beetle Monotomaamericana Aubé 1837 is confirmed.


Introduction
In the perspective of an increasingly globalised world in which goods and people move at an ever-increasing speed, maintaining a high level of attention towards non-native and invasive species is fundamental (Banks et al. 2015, Seebens et al. 2018).In particular, together with early detection, the production of new faunistic records and continuous updating of reliable and easily accessible distributional data is a fundamental step in investigating and preventing non-native species introduction and spread (Kenis et al. 2007 ).Amongst European countries, Italy has one of the highest numbers of intercepted, adventive and established non-native Coleoptera (e.g.Beenen and Roques 2010, Denux and Zagatti 2010, Kirkendall and Faccoli 2010, Roy and Migeon 2010, Sauvard et al. 2010, Yus-Ramos et al. 2014, Nardi et al. 2015, Montagna et al. 2016, Forbicioni 2019, Ruzzier and Colla 2019, Ruzzier et al. 2020b, Ruzzier et al. 2020a, Rattu et al. 2021, Ruzzier et al. 2021c, Ruzzier et al. 2022b, Ruzzier et al. 2023a, Ruzzier et al. 2023c) and this condition is plausibly attributable to Italy's central role in international trade as a crossroads to and from Europe (Roques 2010, Rassati et al. 2014).Given this latter condition, which sees Italy as a possible "gateway to Europe" for non-native species, it is essential to share distribution data to promote an ever-increasing level of attention both in Italy and neighbouring countries against possible natural spreading and introductions.Data collection and monitoring of non-native species, especially if not directed towards specific target taxa of medical, economic or phytosanitary interest, is, however, generally difficult to implement on a national scale; in this regard, the contributions deriving from the nonprofessional entomological community and citizen-science initiatives prove to be fundamental (e.g.Crall et al. (2010), Larson et al. (2020), Wallace et al. (2021)).This work aims to share faunistic data on Italian non-native beetles in a standard and easily accessible format, updating the distribution or confirming the establishment of some taxa and reporting the arrival of further species.

Materials and methods
Methods for capturing specimens have been quite diverse and included direct collection (e.g.litter/organic debris sifting, beating tray, sweeping net; Iannuzzi et al. (2020)), use of baited traps (Touroult and Witté 2020, Ruchin et al. 2021, Ruzzier et al. 2021a) and light trapping (Hébert et al. 2000, Iannuzzi et al. 2020, Kammar et al. 2020).The collection of data on widespread species was possible thanks to the helpfulness of colleagues and citizens who provided specimens and direct observations (with photos) to the authors.All observations, before being included in the paper, were validated by the first author.Species treated in the "Taxon treatments" section are listed alphabetically.

Notes
The data confirm that the species is widely distributed and relatively common in northern Italy, Lombardy in particular.Although Anisandrus maiche is a modestly polyphagous species on broadleaf trees (Ruzzier et al. 2023), no damage attributable to this species has been recorded so far.

Distribution
Ambrosiophilus atratus is an ambrosia beetle native to the Eastern Palearctic now established in France, Italy and Slovenia (Faccoli 2008, Dodelin 2019, Hauptman et al. 2019).The present finding is the first record of the species in Lombardy.

Notes
Ambrosiophilus atratus is a highly polyphagous species, capable of developing in both hardwoods and conifers (Ruzzier et al. 2023).Recent observations, coupled with the lack of damage attributable to the species, however, seem to suggest that A. atratus might have a negligible phytosanitary value, preferring severely debilitated or already dead plants as reproductive substrate (Ranger et al. 2010, Reed et al. 2015, Ruzzier et al. 2022a).

Notes
The finding of the specimen in Molfetta, more than 170 km from the area of the first recording (see Ruzzier et al. (2020b)), would suggest the existence of a second population of this species, probably as a result of an independent introduction.The specimen collected in Minervino di Lecce may also be the result of an independent introduction or be confirmation that the species is expanding in southern Apulia.The fact that the specimens were observed in nature suggests the existence of at least two naturalised populations.

Notes
The recollection of the single specimen in Ronchi dei Legionari, in nature, suggests the existence of an established population in the area.However, given the close vicinity of the Monfalcone port, a well-known port of entry for non-native species (Rassati et al. 2014), it might be possible that the specimen would be the result of a recent introduction.The specimen recollected in Altavilla Vicentina was found already dead inside a DIY store, suggesting its introduction via bamboo products.

Distribution
Species native to the Neotropics and now established in both the Nearctic and Western Palearctic (Ruzzier et al. 2021c, Van Meer andArtéro 2022).Monocrepidius posticus is seemingly a species of relatively recent introduction that, however, has been able to spread in peninsular Italy and Sicily.The rapid diffusion of this species is most probably associated with potted plants (Ruzzier et al. 2021c), especially when the insect is at the larval stage.Specimens from Calabria and Veneto represent new regional records that further demonstrate the wide distribution of the species on the Italian territory.

Notes
Species included in the CABI Invasive Species Compendium; to date, there is no information on the real economic or environmental impact of this non-native species (Ruzzier et al. 2021c).This species was earlier known as Conoderus posticus; however, the name Conoderus Eschscholtz, 1829 is a synonym of Monocrepidius Eschscholtz, 1829 (see Kundrata et al. (2019)).

Distribution
North American species (Bousquet and Laplante 1999) introduced in Croatia and Italy (Jelínek 2007).

Notes
The finding of additional specimens confirms the establishment of this species in the Italian territory, as the occurrence of this taxon was so far limited to the only vague indication given in Jelínek (2007).

Distribution
Taxon native to China, Indonesia, Japan and introduced in Germany, Sweden and USA (Zahradník 2012, Zahradník 2021, Jarzabek-Müller 2023); new species for the Italian fauna.

Notes
The two records, which occurred in different regions and in nature, clearly indicate the establishment of the species in the Italian territory.Ptilineurus marmoratus is a negligible pest in the countries of origin, where it has been recorded damaging stored grains (Yan et al. 2010) or furnishings (Yuasa and Onoe 1930).

Distribution
Species widely distributed in southeast China and Japan (Danilevsky 2020), introduced and established in Italy (Lupi et al. 2013).

Notes
Psacothea hilaris is facing a substantial expansion phase in northern Italy (Lupi et al. 2023), where it is a pest on Ficus carica L. (Moracee) (Lupi et al. 2013).

Distribution
Species of Oriental origin and now established in Asia, North, Central and South America, Africa (including Madagascar) and Oceania (Lykidis et al. 2016).

Notes
Sinoxylon unidentatum has been recorded multiple times in Europe (Nardi andMifsud 2015, Lykidis et al. 2016), although it appears that there are currently no established populations (Lykidis et al. 2016).The fact that the specimen presented here was collected in close proximity to a port area would suggest its recent arrival rather than the existence of a stable population.

Distribution
Species of North American origin and established in Central and South America, Europe, the Oriental Region and in the Near East (Peck et al. 2014, Jelínek et al. 2016, Stan 2019).

Notes
Stelidota geminata is an relevant pest of strawberries in North America (Weiss andWilliams 1980, Loughner et al. 2007).This species is expanding rapidly all over the world and, in Europe, it was reported at first in the Azores in the 1980s (Israelson 1985) and then in several continental countries (Jelínek et al. 2016, Guéorguiev 2018, Stan 2019, Wojas 2022).In Italy, it seems acclimatised since the second half of the 1990s (Ratti 2002), where it has been recorded as phytosaprophagous (Pezzi 2013), but also as a concurrent source of damage on cultivated strawberries (Pansa et al. 2014, author's personal observations).

Discussion
The faunistic records here presented further demonstrated how Italy, due to its climatic and environmental peculiarities, is rather predisposed to host and foster the establishment of non-native beetles; in confirmation, it is sufficient to note that most of the species that have arrived in recent decades are all undergoing a substantial range expansion.It is also interesting to note that species new to the Italian fauna are already present at the European level, indicating a general homogenisation of the non-native fauna due to species natural spreading and unintentional human-mediated transport amongst EU countries.The latter could be the case for the recent arrival of Xylotrechus chinensis, whose Italian population may originate from infested areas in Spain or France, rather than a random introduction from countries of origin (a hypothesis that requires further investigation).Given the enormous diversity of species and adaptations that characterise Coleoptera, maintaining a national level of monitoring and data collection would not be possible without the continued support of the non-professional entomological community, as well as from citizen-science initiatives.In particular, especially for species that are more conspicuous and identifiable by photography, at least in the first instance, careful monitoring of social networks can help to collect totally unexpected observations.
Monterrosa et al. (2022)) a somewhat polyphagous species(Ruzzier et al. 2023b), including plants of economic/productive relevance (e.g.Mandelshtam et al. (2019),Ruzzier et al. (2021b),Monterrosa et al. (2022)), yet its host plants in Europe were not known.The specimen on which the report is based was found in a tunnel bored into a branch of an unidentified conifer (probably Abies).This is the first observation in which C. mutilatus was found in association with a conifer; however, it is plausible that this plant might not be a reproductive host.Dinoderus (Dinoderastes) japonicus Lesné, 1895• GBIF https://www.gbif.org/species/4427616Materials a. scientificName: Dinoderus japonicus Lesné, 1895; family: Bostrichidae; country: Italy; countryCode: IT; stateProvince: Friuli Venezia Giulia; locality: Ronchi dei Distribution Species native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, recorded multiple times in Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands; observations indicate established populations only in France (Brustel and New records of non-native Coleoptera in Italy

Trichoferus campestris (Faldermann, 1835)
(Leivadara et al. 2018)was first detected in Piacenza in 2000(Cocquempot et  al. 2022) and subsequently intercepted in Naples in 2015(Pennacchio et al. 2016),  recorded in Veneto (2018, this paper)and recently observed in Lombardy in 2020(Cocquempot et al. 2022, source INaturalist).It would seem that all the specimens observed belong to single introductions and that, currently, no established populations exist on the Italian territory.However, this situation requires further investigation given the phytosanitary relevance of the species(Allen and Humble 2002, EFSA Panel on  Plant Health et al. 2021).Xylotrechus chinensis was first officially reported in 2013 in Catalonia (Sarto i Monteys and Torras i Tutusaus 2018) and subsequently was observed to be established also in Greece(Leivadara et al. 2018)and France (Cocquempot et al. 2019).The three records here presented and observed in the Province of Brescia (Lombardy) indicate the first record of X. chinensis in Italy.The species was promptly notified to the Regional Plant Health Service (Regione Lombardia Plant Health Service) and to the European Commission (Europhyt Outbreak No. 2250).Several records of exit holes and adults on plants of Morus sp.clearly indicate the establishment of X. chinensis on the Italian territory.There are currently no signs of attack on the other host plants known from literature (Han and Lyu 2010) and present in the Italian invaded area, such as Malus spp., Pyrus spp.and Vitis vinifera L. (Europhyt Outbreak No. 2250).