Occurrence and distribution of Epitrix species in Luxembourg (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The genus Epitrix Foudras, 1860 is widely distributed across the globe, with only four species autochthonous to continental Europe. These beetles predominantly affect plants in the Solanaceae family, with several species particularly targeting potatoes and other cultivated crops as their main hosts. Because of their potential impact on agriculture, the European Union has regulated the introduction and spread of some species since 2012, following the introduction of one of them into the Azores and Madeira. In Luxembourg, systematic national monitoring has been conducted since 2013, with no regulated Epitrix species detected to date. However, the National Museum of Natural History and the Administration of Agricultural Technical Services have documented two autochthonous species: Epitrix atropae Foudras, 1860 and E. pubescens (Koch, 1803). The earliest records of Epitrix pubescens in the country date back to before World War I and this species remains consistently prevalent and broadly distributed, while E. atropae has been reported only sporadically up to 2020.