Mysterious insect in Wrocław. Student accidentally discovers new species

Belonochilus numenius, first noticed in Europe in 2008 in Spain, has been successfully spreading across the continent for a dozen or so years. Its occurrences are currently documented in many European countries. In Poland, in particular in Wrocław, on Ostrów Tumski, Grzegorz Lewek discovered the first representative of this species at the end of 2024. This initiated research in places where London plane trees occur - the main hosts of the hemiptera. After conducting research, the presence of the insect was found in thirteen locations, and a breeding experiment confirmed the development of a new generation.

Alien Invasions: The Impact of Globalization

This discovery sheds light on the problem of alien species invasions, which arrive in new locations via global transport channels. In today's world, where plants, food, and goods move around the globe, the unintended spread of organisms is becoming increasingly common. This phenomenon becomes especially worrying when alien species begin to threaten native ecosystems. In the case of Belonochilus numenius, we can expect this insect to appear in other cities in Poland in the coming years.

Motivation for further research

For Grzegorz Lewek, the discovery of this bug is a satisfaction from scientific work and an important step in the development of knowledge about invertebrate fauna. As he himself admitted, the awareness that his research can contribute to further discoveries and scientific publications is a huge motivation for further work.

— Most of the species we write about in tutoring are poorly known. Often we don't even have information about where they can be found in Poland. In the case of some organisms, it happens that they haven't been studied for decades — explains Grzegorz Lewek. Thanks to his work, our knowledge of Belonochilus numenius is becoming more complete, which can be a foundation for future researchers.

Source: University of Wrocław

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