Abstract:
The increased movement of goods and pathways
to transport these goods around the world, combined
with the global homogenisation of cultivated
areas has resulted in an increase in insect
movement and establishment (McCullough et al.
2006; Roques et al. 2008;Aukema et al. 2010; Garnas
et al. 2012). This pattern has been evident in South
Africa (Giliomee 2011), including plantations of
Eucalyptus where an increase in the rate of introduction
of non-native insect herbivores has been
reported (Wingfield et al. 2008; Garnas et al. 2012;
Hurley et al. 2016). Indeed, in just three years
(2012–2014), at least six insect species native to
Australia and associated with Eucalyptus trees
have been detected in South Africa for the first
time. This short communication serves to formally
report these six species, namely Glycaspis brimblecombei
Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), Psyllaephagus
bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Spondyliaspis
cf. plicatuloides Froggatt (Hemiptera: Psyllidae),
Ophelimus maskelli Ashmead (Hymenoptera:
Eulophidae), Closterocerus chamaeleon Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Psyllaephagus
blastopsyllae Tamesse, Soufo, Tchanatame,
Dzokou, Gumovsky & Coninck (Hymenoptera:
Encyrtidae).
