Two New Guests: On the Presence of Two Newly Established Species of Chrysomela Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in South America.

Abstract

The genus Chrysomela includes several species known to be pests of willow (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.) trees, primarily distributed across North America. However, these species are expanding beyond their natural range. This study presents the first record of C. scripta in Colombia where it feeds and reproduces on Salix humboldtiana; additionally, this species is also recorded for the first time from Ecuador and Peru based on participative science records; furthermore, another species, C. texana, is also recorded from Colombia. The introduction of these species raises concerns for timber-producing regions, particularly in Argentina and Chile, and on the existing pressures on Salix humboldtiana, the only native species of this genus in the region.