Dictyoptera (Blattodea, Isoptera), Orthoptera, Phasmatodea and Dermaptera
2010
Rasplus, Jean Yves | Roques, Alain
For convenience, we treat all “polyneopteran” orders together. Five orders of hemimetabolous “Polyneoptera” include species alien to Europe, namely Blattodea, Isoptera, Orthoptera, Phasmatodea and Dermaptera. A total of 37 species alien to Europe have been recorded. Th ese belong to 14 diff erent families. Most of these species show a detritivorous feeding regime (22 spp.), whereas 12 species are phytophagous and two are predators. Th e majority of species were fi rst observed between 1900 and 1975. Unlike other arthropod groups, the mean number of polyneopteran species newly recorded per year showed no acceleration since 1975. Th e alien “Polyneoptera” mostly originated from Central/ South America and Asia (10 species each, 27.0%), followed by Africa (7, 18.9%). Germany hosts the largest number of alien Polyneoptera (15 spp.), followed by Denmark (14), Spain (11) and France (10). All but one alien species represent unintentional introductions. More than 75% of the species are associated with artifi cial habitats (houses, buildings and greenhouses) and cultivated areas. Blattodea and Isoptera have huge economic and/ or medical importance. Th e cost of treatments and sanitary measures against termites and cockroaches, in particular, is signifi cant in Europe.
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