Conservation
Nicholas Barclay shows specimens of Arocatus longiceps that he collected in the Museum's wildlife garden. Children often discover things that adults (in this case a building full of scientists) have missed! © Max Barclay
Arocatus longiceps is common and spreading rapidly. It takes advantage of a resource that is entirely man-made (hybrid trees in cities) and so is not really part of the natural environment in most of its range.
The seeds it feeds on do not usually germinate and are of no commercial use, so it is not a pest, but because it has moved to new places and left its natural parasites and predators behind, it is capable of reaching enormous population densities. Of course its continued existence in its extended range depends on people continuing to plant hybrid plane trees, but as individual trees may live several hundred years, its long term future seems secure.
It is possible that in future a parasitic wasp, fly, or pathogen may be transported here from the bug’s natural area of distribution, in which case it may suffer a population crash.
