Prima segnalazione di Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky, 1866) (Coleoptera Curculionidae – Scolytinae) in Puglia

First report of Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky, 1866) (Coleoptera Curculionidae – Scolytinae) in the Apulia region. The authors report, for the first time, the presence of the beetle Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky, 1866) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in Apulia, in the province of Bari, in a private garden located in the countryside of Torre a Mare, on Carob trees. Xylosandrus crassiusculus, originally from Asia, is a xylophagous insect that has a significant impact on its host plants, causing economic damage and threatening ecosystem biodiversity. Its high level of ecological adaptability and ability to infest healthy trees raises concerns about its potential impact in new environmental settings. This report highlights the importance of thorough ecological surveys to understand and manage the effects of this invasive species.