CHEMICAL CONTROL OF BOX TREE MOTH CYDALIMA PERSPECTALIS (WALKER, 1859) (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE) IN NORTH-WESTERN ROMANIA

Abstract

The box tree moth was accidentally introduced in Central Europe and recently was detected and identified in Romaniaas a serious pest, naturally spreading on the continent. The larva feeds on the box tree leaves and in case of food shortage they consume the bark, causing serious damage and even death to the attacked plant. Chemical control represents a stand alone method against Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) because biological control techniques available in Europe are in developmental stage. The research aim was to identify a sort of active ingredients that control this invasive pest. The following active ingredients were tested: thiacloprid, methoxyfenozide, lambda-cyhalothrin, spinosad, milbemectin, chlorantraniliprole, acetamiprid, abamectin, diflubenzuron, thiametoxam, dimethoate, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, and binary combination of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin, chlorantraniliprole and abamectin. Methoxyfenozide, spinosad, chlorantraniliprole caused 100% larval mortality, fallowed by the combination of chlorantraniliprole+abamectin, and chlorpyrifos+ cypermethrin which gives identical results.

Keywords

• buxus sempervirens, invasive pest, lepidoptera, insecticide, pest management