Trophic associations and harmfulness of native and alien leaf mining moth species (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in Siberia

Abstract

In 2006–2018, 13 species of leaf mining gracillariid moths (Gracillariidae) caused noticeable damage to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) in Siberia, i. e. about six of all moth species known in this part of Russia. Relative damage levels of 50–75 % and > 75 % were recorded for 9 moths, of which 5 species are native pests of poplars (Populus L.): Phyllonorycter apparella (Herrich-Schäffer), Ph. comparella (Duponchel), Ph. populifoliella (Treitschke), Phyllocnistis labyrinthella (Bjerkander), and Ph. unipunctella (Stephens). Three moth species, namely Acrocercops brongniardella Fabricius, Gracillaria syringella (Fabricius) and Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata) are alien to Siberia. Their numerous mines were found on leaves of woody plants (oaks (Quercus L.), lilacs (Syringa L.), ash (Fraxinus L.) and lime (Tilia L.) trees) in Western Siberia (Omsk, Tyumen and Novosibirsk Oblast). Alien origin of Phyllonorycter medicaginella (Gerasimov) and Ph. lantanella (Schrank) in Siberia requires confirmation. Both native and alien moth species showed a tendency to cause significant damage to the plants in artificial (manmade) stands, i. e. in urban green plantings, parks, arboreta, botanical gardens, tree nurseries. Overall 81 % of cases of significant damage by gracillariids was documented in artificial plantings vs. 19 % in forests. The European part of Russia remains the main donor of alien gracillariid species for Siberia. Alien species distribute to Siberia directly or through bridge-effect invasions from the west of Russia.

Keywords

• leaf mining insects
• invaders
• woody plants
• harm
• western and eastern siberia