Карагян Г.А’s scientific contributions

Data on the first registrations of invasive insect species – marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) in Central (Yerevan city) and Northern Armenia (Lori region) are presented. It is presumed that the species penetrated to the north of the country as a result of independent expansion from Georgia, and to its central part due to unintentional delivery with cargo or fruit and vegetable products. The role of citizen scientists in revealing of the species is shown.

Data on the first registration of conifer seed bug Leptoglossus occidentalis in Armenia are presented. Penetration of the species from Georgia due to self-dependent expansion or unintentional delivery is presumed.

Data on further expansion of the range of the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis in Armenia are presented. The species was first registered in 2016 in the outmost NW part of Armenia. Recently, in 2018, the species was found in several localities of Central Armenia and in Sevan Lake basin. Besides, the mass outbreak of Harmonia in the outmost NE of Armenia was registered. Different ways of invasion and expansion are supposed: to the Central part of Armenia it could be carried due to unintentional introduction along the main roads of Armenia together with fruit and vegetable production, and into the NE of Armenia – due to self-spreading from the SE of Georgia.