THE GIANT WATER BUG LETHOCERUS (HEMIPTERA HETEROPTERA BELOSTOMATIDAE) IS SPREADING IN ITALY: THE FIRST RECORD FOR CAMPANIA

Abstract

Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1854) is the only member of the Belostomatidae family in Europe. During the last decades, records of this giant water bug have become frequent in south-eastern Italy, but with no evidence about its origin (man-mediated unintentional introduction or a natural westward spread). The status of this species in Italy is still uncertain, but the man-mediated unintentional introduction seems the most probable, even through multiple introductions. The first record of Lethocerus cf. patruelis for the Campania region (the first one on the Tyrrhenian side of Italy) is here reported, suggesting the already registered tendency of this species to expand, at least in Europe. Several topics need to be evaluated, in the light of its status in Italy and its management. Key Words: aquatic insect; distribution; Heteroptera; Nepomorpha; new record.