Author: Christian Ries

Cochlearia danica L.

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

English Danish scurvygrass Status LU: established. 1st record: LU & ITW 2011.
Lëtzebuergesch Dänescht Läffelblat Status Eur.: established.
Français Cochléaire du Danemark RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: 0,02
Deutsch Dänisches Löffelkraut Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Danish scurvygrass Wikipedia - Français - Wikipedia - Deutsch - Dänisches Löffelkraut Wikipedia - Nederlands - Deens lepelblad | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Cochlearia danica
Nederlands Deens lepelblad Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Cochlearia danica L. is native to coastal habitats in the following countries in Europe: Belgium, Denmark, United Kingdom, France, Finland, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Sweden (Fekete et al. 2018: 27). This salt-tolerant coastal flowering plant is now flourishing along roads and motorways in Europe, especially under the crash barriers in the central reservation. Its success has been attributed to its ability to survive the effects of salts distributed by gritters in winter and its small seeds being spread by the high speed of cars in the fast lane. Literature data indicate a rapid spread of this species along European roads, of 62–65 km/year (Fekete et al. 2018: 28). Full of vitamin C, the Danish scurvygrass gets its name from sailors chewing it to avoid scurvy. The mauve flowers are 4-5mm in diameter (Wikipedia contributors 2019).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Cochlearia danica L. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2021-07-23.

Cochlearia danica L. was first collected on 2011-05-05 in Luxembourg-Kirchberg by Jean-Claude Kirpach (MNHNL 2000-). 1 Since this first observation, the species has been spotted twice along the controlled-access A6 highway near Windhof and Aire de Capellen (Krippel et al. 2018: 61-62). The Danish scurvygrass continues to expand eastward along this highway (Krippel et al. 2020).

In a recent survey of salt-tolerant vascular plant species along roads in Luxembourg (Ehl et al. 2019), the Danish scurvygrass was not recorded, although it was expected to be found, as it was recently recorded in Trier in Germany (Hand et al. 2016) and Arlon in Belgium (Remacle 2015).

On 2018-04-11, its presence was confirmed also along the A1 motorway to Germany, more than 100,000 plants especially along the central berm, but also along the lateral strips, over several km with interruptions (Krippel et al. 2020).

In April 2021, further occurrences of the species were discovered, as white flowering patches along the A7 motorway between Mersch and Schieren: Mierscherbierg-Rouscht, after the Colmarbierg slip road and at the Schieren exit (Krippel in litt. 2021).

The general spread of Cochlearia danica has been following the pattern of roads leading from the coast to the hinterland (Brandes 2009). The Danish scurvygrass, quite common on the coasts of Western Europe, is expanding inland mainly in the north and centre of the flora territory, following the massive use of snow removal salts in winter, especially along highways (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 270-271).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (1+1+1+1). First assessed 24 January 2019 by Manou Pfeiffenschneider and Christian Ries.

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,02 = (Overall Invasion score 0,42 x Overall Impact score 0,07) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,42Invasion
0,07Impact
0,02Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Brandes, D., 2009. Autobahnen als Wuchsorte und Ausbreitungswege von Ruderal- und Adventivpflanzen. Braunschweiger Naturkundliche Schriften 8(2): 373-394.
  • Ehl, S., K. Mildenberger, T. Frankenberg & C. Ries, 2019. Halophytes in roadside habitats: a survey of salt-tolerant vascular plant species along roads in Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 121: 37-51. [PDF 24.03 MB]
  • Fekete, R., A. Mesterházy, O. Valkó & V. A. Molnár, 2018. A hitchhiker from the beach: the spread of the maritime halophyte Cochlearia danica along salted continental roads. Preslia 90: 23–37. DOI: 10.23855/preslia.2018.023
  • GBIF 2020. Cochlearia danica L. in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2020-02-28.
  • Hand, R., H. Reichert, W. Bujnoch, U. Kottke & S. Caspari, 2016. Flora der Region Trier (1. & 2. Band). Verlag Michael Weyand GmbH, Trier, 1637 pp.
  • Krippel, Y., T. Helminger & G. Colling, 2018. Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2016-2017). Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 120: 57-76. [PDF 265 KB]
  • Krippel, Y., T. Helminger & G. Colling, 2020. Notes floristiques. Observations faites au Luxembourg (2018-2019). Bulletin Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122 : 29-55. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Cochlearia danica L. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-05]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. Cochlearia danica L. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-09-06]
  • Remacle, A., 2015. L’intérêt botanique des espaces verts autoroutiers : le cas de l’autoroute E411 près d’Arlon (province de Luxembourg, Belgique). Dumortiera 107: 3-21.
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021 [Unpublished manuscript]. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. MNHNL & Naturpark Öewersauer.
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Wikipedia contributors, 2019. Cochlearia danica L. in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 16 September 2019. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cochlearia_danica&oldid=916018993 [accessed 3 October 2019]

Not cited bibliography concerning our neighbouring areas

  • Cochard, P.-O., 2005. Cochlearia danica L., une halophyte adventice des autoroutes. Symbioses nouvelle série 13 : 69-74. [http://pierreo.cochard.free.fr/cv_poc/Cochard_Cochlearia.pdf]
  • Havrenne, A., 1995. Cochlearia danica, plante halophile nouvelle pour le Hainaut. Natura Mosana 48 : 68-69.
  • Mennema, J., 1986. Cochlearia danica L. op weg naar de binnenlanden van België en West-Duitsland. Dumortiera 34-35 : 139-142.
  • Olivier, J.-F., 1996. Nouvelles stations de Cochlearia danica L. près de Bruxelles. Dumortiera 66 : 1-3.
  • Remacle, A., 2015. L’intérêt botanique des espaces verts autoroutiers : le cas de l’autoroute E411 près d’Arlon (province de Luxembourg, Belgique). Dumortiera 107 : 3-21.
  • Robyns, J., 1978. Floristische mededelingen : Cochlearia danica te Ezemaal. Dumortiera 10 : 296.
  • Zwaenepoel, A., 1994. Cochlearia danica L. als bermhalofyt langs verkeerswegen in het Vlaamse binnenland. Dumortiera 55-57 : 43-49.

 Page content last updated on 2021-06-18. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-12.

Notes:

  1. The specimen was determined by Thierry Helminger, MNHNL. ↩

First observation of Impatiens balfourii in Luxembourg

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

Impatiens balfourii. Luxembourg, Kirchberg. Photo: Roland Proess, 5 August 2016.

Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. was first observed in Luxembourg in the wild in 2016, on the edge of the Kirchberg plateau by Roland Proess. It is at present considered to be subspontaneous; it may however have the potential to become naturalised in Luxembourg due to climate change.

Yves Krippel & Roland Proess have written a detailed article on the subject which was published in the Bulletin of the Luxembourg Naturalist Society:

  • Krippel, Y. & R. Proess, 2017. Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. (Balsaminaceae), nouvelle espèce subspontanée au Luxembourg ?. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 55-61. [PDF 2,72 MB]

Impatiens balfourii has been assessed according to the ISEIA protocol by Yves Krippel and Christian Ries: B1, Watch List.

Two other invasive alien balsam species occur in Luxembourg: the Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera Royle), one of the most common and widespread invasive neophytes in Luxembourg, and the small balsam (Impatiens parviflora DC.), which is widespread in forest ecosystems across Luxembourg.

 Page content last updated on 2019-11-12. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-12.

Impatiens balfourii Hook.f.

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

English Balfour’s touch-me-not, Kashmir balsam Status LU: casual. 1st record: LU <1995, ITW 2016.
Lëtzebuergesch Balfour-Sprangkraut Status Eur.: established. 1st record: FR ~1890. 1
Français Impatiente, balsamine de Balfour RA: ISEIA: B1 – Watch List. Harmonia+: 0,09.
Deutsch Balfour’s Springkraut Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Himalayan Balsam Wikipedia - Français - Impatiente de l'Inde | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Impatiens glandulifera | CABI
Nederlands Tweekleurig springzaad Back to the list of neophytes

Brief description

Impatiens balfourii9Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. is a species of the genus Impatiens known by the common names Balfour’s touch-me-not, Kashmir balsam, and Poor Man’s Orchid. It belongs to the family Balsaminaceae. It is native to the Himalayas, particularly Kashmir and surrounding areas, where it grows on mountains of 5,000 to 6,000 feet. It was brought back to England and many other European countries as a garden plant. It can now be found growing wild as a garden escapee in Europe. In the wild the plant occurs along the banks of rivers, on roadsides, and in wastelands. It thrives in cool and moist areas, at an altitude of 100–600 m above sea level (Wikipedia contributors 2019).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2021-07-23.

In Luxembourg, Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. was first observed in 2009 in the Mediterranian Garden in Schwebsange, when “Natur & Ëmwelt Fondatioun Hëllef fir d’Natur” took over the management of the premises. The former owners recalled having brought the species from a trip to Lago Maggiore in Northern Italy in the late 1980ies or early 1990ies (Moes 2021). We thus assume the 1st record of the species is to be dated before 1995.

The species was first observed in the wild by Roland Proess on 2016-08-05 at Schëttermarjal on the edge of the Kirchberg plateau in Luxembourg City (Krippel & Proess 2017). The species is at present considered to be subspontaneous; it may however have the potential of becoming naturalised in Luxembourg due to climate change (Krippel & Proess 2017).

A second observation of this melliferous Himalayan species was made on 2020-08-28 on a ruderal stand next to a stone wall in Neudorf (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2021).

Cultivated as an ornamental garden plant. Found subspontaneously here and there, or sometimes naturalised locally, especially in the south (Lambinon & Verloove 2012: 480).

Impatiens balfourii has its origins in the west Himalayan region (Grey-Wilson 1983). This species of the Balsaminaceae family was simultaneously introduced in 1901 at the Jardin des plantes de Montpellier and the Botanical Garden of Edinburgh (Adamowski 2009). It has been cultivated in Europe as an ornamental plant since the beginning of the 20th century; in Luxembourg it is grown, for example, in the Jardin méditerranéen in Schwebsange. Nowadays the species is naturalised in major parts of south and central Europe (Adamowski 2009, Schmitz & Dericks 2010).

Other Impatiens taxa and hybrids

In 2011 the annual hybrid I. parviflora × I. balfourii was discovered in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The fertile hybrid with alternating leaves can be up to 60 cm high. Considerable populations of the hybrid were observed in 2014 in the canton of Ticino in the absence of the parent species (Van Valkenburg et al. 2019).

Three other alien balsam species occur in Luxembourg:

  • Impatiens balsamina L.: the garden balsam is already mentioned in Krombach’s flora of 1875 as “Introduced from the East Indies and grown in all gardens” (Krombach 1875: 56).
  • Impatiens glandulifera Royle: the invasive Himalayan Balsam, which is widespread in riparian ecosystems and forests across Luxembourg.
  • Impatiens parviflora DC.: the small balsam, which is widespread in forests across Luxembourg.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

B1 (3+3+3+1) = Watch List. First assessed 16 February 2017 by Yves Krippel and Christian Ries.

Harmonia+ protocol

Overall risk score 0,09 = (Overall Invasion score 0,17 x Overall Impact score 0,30) (Ries et al. 2020).

0,17Invasion
0,30Impact
0,09Risk

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Adamowski, W., 2009. Impatiens balfourii as an emerging invader in Europe. Neobiota 8: 183-194.
  • CABI, 2019. Impatiens balfourii. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-03-02]
  • GBIF, 2020. Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-02]
  • Grey-Wilson, C., 1983. A survey of the genus Impatiens in cultivation. The Plantsman 5(2): 86-102.
  • Krippel, Y. & R. Proess, 2017. Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. (Balsaminaceae), nouvelle espèce subspontanée au Luxembourg ?! Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 55-61 [PDF].
  • Lambinon J. & F. Verloove, 2012. Nouvelle flore de la Belgique, du grand-duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines. Sixième édition. Avec la collaboration de L. Delvosalle, B. Toussaint, D. Geerinck, I. Hoste, F. Van Rossum, B. Cornier, R. Schumacker, A. Vanderpoorten et H. Vannerom. Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise. CXXXIX + 1195 pp. ISBN : 9789072619884.
  • Matthews, J., R. Beringen, E. Boer, H. Duistermaat, B. Odé, J. L. C. H. van Valkenburg, G. van der Velde & R. S. E. W. Leuven, 2015. Risks and management of non-native Impatiens species in the Netherlands. Ed. by Radboud University, FLORON and Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Reports Environmental Science 491, 2015. 177 S. [PDF]
  • MNHNL, 2000-. Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. in Recorder-Lux, database on the natural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-11]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2021. Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2021-01-12]
  • Moes, G., 2021. Personal communication by E-mail to Yves Krippel on 2021-01-09.
  • Ries, C. & Y. Krippel, 2021 [Unpublished manuscript]. First records of 56 invasive alien vascular plants in Luxembourg. MNHNL & Naturpark Öewersauer.
  • Ries, C., Y. Krippel & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2020. Risk assessment after the Harmonia+ protocol of invasive alien vascular plant species in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 122: 197-205. [PDF 132 KB]
  • Schmitz, U. & G. Dericks, 2010. Spread of alien invasive Impatiens balfourii in Europe and its temperature, light and soil moisture demands. Flora 205: 772-776.
  • Van Valkenburg, J. L. C. H., N. Schoenenberger, B. T. L. H. van de Vossenberg, W. A. Man in’t Veld, M. Westenberg & E. Boer, 2019. A natural hybrid of Impatiens, in the introduced range, demonstrated by sequence analysis of the nuclear ribosomal DNA-gene repeat. Botany Letters 166: 144-152.
  • Wikipedia contributors, 2019. Impatiens balfourii Hook.f. in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 September 2019, 14:49 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Impatiens_balfourii&oldid=917160050> [accessed 2019-10-11]

 Page content last updated on 2021-04-12. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-19.

Notes:

  1. Cf. Matthews et al. 2015: 46. ↩

Pectinatella magnifica (Leidy, 1851)

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

English Magnificent bryozoan Status LU: established. 1st record: ~2011.
Lëtzebuergesch Schwamp-Moosdéierchen Status Eur.: established.
Français Pectinatelle RA: ISEIA: C1. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Schwammartiges Moostierchen Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Greater duckweed Wikipedia - Français - Lentille d'eau géante Wikipedia - Deutsch - Vielwurzelige Teichlinse Nederlands | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Pectinatella magnifica
Nederlands n/a Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

Pectinatella magnifica 02Pectinatella magnifica, the magnificent bryozoan, is a member of the Bryozoa phylum, in the order Plumatellida. It is a colony of organisms that bind together; these colonies can sometimes be 60 centimeters in diameter. These organisms can be found mostly in North America with some in Europe. They are often found attached to objects, but can be found free floating as well. They form a translucent body with many star-like blooms along the outside. The density of the organism is similar to that of gelatin, and is easily breakable into smaller chunks (Wikipedia contributors 2018).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Pectinatella magnifica (Leidy, 1851) in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2021-07-23.

In 2012 numerous colonies of Pectinatella magnifica (Leidy, 1851) (Bryozoa, Phylactolaemata) were discovered in the reservoir of Esch-sur-Sûre (Luxembourg) fed by the river Sûre. The colonies were particularly abundant in the shallow, warm and nutrient-rich water near the riverbank, but some colonies were spotted by divers in the reservoir at a depth of 8-9 m in one site and more than 20 m in another site. There is reliable evidence that Pectinatella was present, but less conspicuous and as such not identified, in 2011 and possibly already in 2010. P. magnifica was hitherto unrecorded in Luxembourg, but known from a site near the German-Luxembourg border near Nennig (Germany, Saarland) where statoblasts were found in 2001 (Massard et al. 2013).

Three records of the species are accessible through the MNHNL-mdata portal (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2021).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

C1 (3+2+1+1) (Ries et al. 2017: 68).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • GBIF, 2019. Pectinatella magnifica (Leidy, 1851) in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-13]
  • Massard, J.A., G. Geimer & E. Wille, 2013. Apparition de Pectinella magnifica (Leidy, 1851) (Bryozoa, Phylactolaemata) dans le lac de barrage d’Esch-sur-Sûre (Luxembourg). Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 114: 131-148.
  • Massard, J.A. & G. Geimer, 2015. L’’histoire de la recherche bryozoologique au Luxembourg (Phylactolémates et Gymnolémates d’eau douce). Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 116: 373-379. [PDF 1,35 MB]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2021. MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2021-04-14]
  • Ries, C., A. Arendt, C. Braunert, S. Christian, A. Dohet, A. Frantz, G. Geimer, M. Hellers, J. A. Massard, X. Mestdagh, R. Proess, N. Schneider & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2017. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of invertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 63-70. [PDF 360 KB]
  • Wikipedia contributors, 2018. ‘Pectinatella magnifica’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 3 December 2018, 23:25 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pectinatella_magnifica&oldid=871869936> [accessed 2020-03-13]

 Page content last updated on 2021-04-14. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-12.

New up-to-date distribution maps on neobiota.lu

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

Records of Procyon lotor Linnaeus, 1758 in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2021-07-23.

The distribution maps on neobiota.lu are from now on up to date. Every time a page concerning a species present in Luxembourg is viewed, the distribution data are retrieved on the fly by a query sent to the Recorder-Lux database of the Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History.

These data are saved on the neobiota.lu server in GPX format and displayed using the OSM (Open Street Map) WordPress plugin.

 Page content last updated on 2020-12-08. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-12.

IAS coordination group for Luxembourg created by Ministerial Order

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

On 21 November 2016 the Minister for the Environment, Carole Dieschbourg signed the Ministerial Order creating a coordination group for invasive alien species in Luxembourg, which was published in the Memorial on 28 November 2016.

Arrêté ministériel du 21 novembre 2016 portant création du groupe de coordination sur les espèces exotiques envahissantes au Luxembourg. Mémorial B – N° 121 du 28 novembre 2016. (PDF 29 KB)

 Page content last updated on 2019-11-12. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-12.

Publication of a leaflet on Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

In autumn 2016 the Department for the Environment of the Luxembourg Ministry of sustainable development and infrastructures edited a leaflet in German and French about Ambrosia artemisiifolia, in co-operation with the National Museum of Natural History and efor-ersa ingénieurs-conseils. It can be downloaded here in PDF format (4 MB each).

More information on the Common Ragweed in Luxembourg can be found in a dedicated article on this website.

flyer-cover-de   flyer-cover-fr

 Page content last updated on 2020-03-30. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-11-12.

Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman, 2000

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

English Varroa mite Status LU: established. 1st record: 1985.
Lëtzebuergesch Varroamilb Status Eur.: established.
Français n/a RA: ISEIA: A3, Black List. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Varroamilbe Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Varroa mite Wikipedia - Français - Varroa destructor Wikipedia - Deutsch - Varroamilbe Nederlands | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Varroa destructor | CABI
Nederlands Varroamijt Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

7-Varroa destructor on head bee pupa3 by Gilles San MartinVarroa destructor Anderson & Trueman, 2000 is an external parasitic mite that attack and feeds on the honey bees Apis cerana and Apis mellifera. The disease caused by the mites is called varroosis. The Varroa mite can only reproduce in a honey bee colony. It attaches to the body of the bee and weakens the bee by sucking fat bodies. The species is a vector for at least five debilitating bee viruses, including RNA viruses such as the deformed wing virus (DWV). A significant mite infestation leads to the death of a honey bee colony, usually in the late autumn through early spring. The Varroa mite is the parasite with possibly the most pronounced economic impact on the beekeeping industry. Varroa is considered to be one of multiple stress factors contributing to the higher levels of bee losses around the world.

The adult female mite is reddish-brown in color, while the male is white. Varroa mites are flat, having a button shape. They are 1–1.8 mm long and 1.5–2 mm wide, and have eight legs. Mites reproduce on a 10-day cycle (Wikipedia contributors 2020).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman, 2000 was observed for the first time in Luxembourg in 1985 (Meisch 1986). Claude Meisch recalls: “At that time it was a delicate matter, no beekeeper wanted to admit that he had the parasite in his hives. I remember well that I was the first to admit in meetings that I had found Varroa in my hives. Probably Varroa was already widespread in the whole country at that time” (Meisch 2018).

In the 1980s, Varroa spread throughout the country and is nowadays present in every beehive.

There is no distribution map available because no data has been entered into the Recorder-Lux database so far (MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF 2019).

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

A3 (3+3+3+3) = Black List (Ries et al. 2017: 68).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

CABI 2008: https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/107784#toDistributionMaps

Bibliography

  • CABI, 2008. Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman, 2000 [original text by Claire Beverley]. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2019-11-26]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2019. MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2019-10-24]
  • Meisch, C., 1986. Die Varroamilbe. Geschichte der Ausbreitung, Portrait und Biologie. Pp. 174-177 in: Livre d’or du centenaire 1886-1986. Fédération des unions d’apiculteurs du grand-duché de Luxembourg.
  • Meisch, C., 2018. Personal communication to Lucie Lentz during Summer 2018.
  • Ries, C., A. Arendt, C. Braunert, S. Christian, A. Dohet, A. Frantz, G. Geimer, M. Hellers, J. A. Massard, X. Mestdagh, R. Proess, N. Schneider & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2017. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of invertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 63-70. [PDF 360 KB]
  • Wikipedia contributors, 2020. ‘Varroa destructor’, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 19 February 2020, 15:24 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Varroa_destructor&oldid=941598994> [accessed 2020-03-13]

 Page content last updated on 2021-05-14. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-12-12.

Opilio canestrinii (Thorell, 1876)

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

English n/a Status LU: established. 1st record: 2009.
Lëtzebuergesch Roude Schneider Status Eur.: established.
Français n/a RA: ISEIA: B3, Watch List. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Apenninen-Kanker Wikipedia: Wikipedia - English - Opilio canestrinii Wikipedia - Français - Opilio canestrinii Nederlands | Wikispecies: n/a (2020) | CABI
Nederlands Rode hooiwagen Back to the list of invertebrates

Brief description

Opilio canestrinii LC0163Opilio canestrinii is a species of harvestman. Males reach a body length up to 6 mm, females up to 8 mm. While males are yellowish brown to reddish, females are lighter. Males have dark legs, but yellow coxae and “knees”; the legs of females show alternately light and dark rings. The backs of females sport a dark, saddle-like pattern with a light longitudinal stripe in the middle. Adults can be found from June to December.

O. canestrinii probably originates from Italy, but has invaded Central Europe since the late 1970, and has since almost everywhere replaced the similar O. parietinus. It is most often found on house walls (Wikipedia contributors 2019).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

Records of Opilio canestrinii (Thorell, 1876) in Luxembourg. Data source: Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2021-07-23.

The first documented occurrence of the species in Luxembourg dates from 2009. It was found by C. Muster on 20th August 2009 in Fort Berlaimont (Municipality of Luxembourg).

Opilio canestrinii is the second most common harvestman in Luxembourg and can be found in every region of the country.

Opilio canestrinii colonises a number of open habitats independently of their moisture levels. It is very successful in man-made landscapes, even in bigger cities. It is a strong competitor to native species and seems able to displace or even replace them. There are indicators that the similar Opilio parietinus, traditionally a common species on house walls, has nearly vanished, just a few years after the arrival of O. canestrinii.

Several sources describe this harvestman as a typical species of urban areas. In Luxembourg however, the data provided from different projects show evidence that the species occurs in great numbers and important percentages even in close-to-nature areas. Since the 1960s, O. canestrinii has spread extremely quickly northwards through Europe and has become a more or less common species in their new areas.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

B3 (3+2+3+1) = Watch List (Ries et al. 2017: 68).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • CABI, 2019. Opilio canestrinii. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. URL: www.cabi.org/isc [accessed 2020-03-05]
  • GBIF, 2020. Opilio canestrinii in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-05]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2020. Opilio canestrinii in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-03-05]
  • Muster, C. & M. Meyer, 2014. Verbreitungsatlas der Weberknechte des Großherzogtums Luxemburg. Ferrantia 70. Musée national d’histoire naturelle, Luxembourg, 112 S. (PDF 3.8 MB)
  • Ries, C., A. Arendt, C. Braunert, S. Christian, A. Dohet, A. Frantz, G. Geimer, M. Hellers, J. A. Massard, X. Mestdagh, R. Proess, N. Schneider & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2017. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of invertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 63-70. [PDF 360 KB]
  • Weber, D. (Hrsg.), 2014. Die Höhlenfauna Luxemburgs. Ferrantia 69. Musée national d’histoire naturelle Luxembourg, 408 pp. + CD-Rom (PDF 19 MB)
  • Wikipedia contributors, 2019. Opilio canestrinii. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 January 2019, 10:39 UTC, &lt;https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Opilio_canestrinii&amp;oldid=878854172&gt; [accessed 2020-03-05]

 Page content last updated on 2021-05-14. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-12-10.

Dermacentor marginatus Leach, 1815

Posted onAuthorChristian Ries

English Sheep tick Status LU: absent
Lëtzebuergesch Schofszeck Status Eur.: established.
Français n/a RA: ISEIA: C0. Harmonia+: n/a.
Deutsch Schafzecke Wikipedia: Wikipedia - Français - Dermacentor marginatus Wikipedia - Deutsch - Schafzecke | Wikispecies: Wikispecies - Dermacentor marginatus
Nederlands  n/a Back to the list of invertebrates

Important note

In 2015, six Dermacentor ticks were collected in SE-Luxembourg. Previously, these individuals had been identified as Dermacentor marginatus Leach, 1815. However, morphological re-investigation as well as DNA barcoding identified the specimens as Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794). Thus only D. reticulatus is known from Luxembourg (Weigand et al. 2020).

Brief description

Dermacentor marginatusDermacentor marginatus Leach, 1815 is a species of tick of the family Ixodidae, which is a vector of several zoonotic diseases, which is why this tick is considered to pose particular eco-epidemiological and public health risks for humans (Wikipedia contributors 2019).

In Central Europe the sheep tick is the most common species of the genus. It lives here only in heat islands and on sunny slopes or dry grasslands. Mammals, including humans, are preferred as hosts. The animals of the genus transmit tularemia (Francisella tularensis), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia richettsii), Q-fever (Rickettsia burneti), bovine anaplasmosis, puppy-babesiosis (Babesia canis) (Source: http://www.ijon.de/zecken/system.html#zecke).

It is one of the species that could be favoured by global warming, which would allow it to move northwards, but also upwards (Wikipedia contributors 2019).

Status and distribution in Luxembourg

The tick Dermacentor marginatus Leach, 1815 is absent from Luxembourg.

Risk assessment

ISEIA protocol

Following the morphological re-investigation as well as DNA barcoding that identified all the specimens as Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) (Weigand et al. 2020), Dermacentor marginatus is considered absent from Luxembourg and was reassessed on 29 October 2020 to C0 (2+1+2+1). Initial assessment: C1 (2+1+2+1) (Ries et al. 2017: 68).

Harmonia+ protocol

Not assessed yet.

Worldwide distribution

Bibliography

  • Direction de la Santé, 2016. Attention aux tiques! Comment se protéger? Dépliant. Luxembourg. URL: https://sante.public.lu/fr/prevention/tiques/
  • GBIF, 2020. Dermacentor marginatus in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei [accessed 2020-03-05]
  • MNHNL, iNaturalist & GBIF, 2020. Dermacentor marginatus in MNHNL-mdata, online portal combining species observation from Recorder-Lux, iNaturalist and GBIF. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. URL: https://mdata.mnhn.lu [Accessed 2020-03-05]
  • Ries, C., A. Arendt, C. Braunert, S. Christian, A. Dohet, A. Frantz, G. Geimer, M. Hellers, J. A. Massard, X. Mestdagh, R. Proess, N. Schneider & M. Pfeiffenschneider, 2017. Environmental impact assessment and black, watch and alert list classification after the ISEIA Protocol of invertebrates in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. Nat. luxemb. 119: 63-70. [PDF 360 KB]
  • Weigand, A., J. Teixeira & S. Christian, 2020. First record of Hyalomma marginatum sensu stricto C.L. Koch, 1844 and distribution of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) (Acari, Ixodidae) in Luxembourg. Bull. Soc. nat. luxemb. 122 : 253-263.
  • Wikipedia contributors, 2019. Dermacentor marginatus. Wikipédia, l’encyclopédie libre. URL: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermacentor_marginatus [accessed 2020-03-05]

 Page content last updated on 2021-05-14. Last proofread by Caroline Grounds on 2019-12-10.