The detection of an alien lepidopteran species on maples in two Siberian arboreta

Abstract

Here we report about notable damage on the leaves of Tatar maple (Acer tataricum L.) in the arboretum of V. N. Sukachev Institute of Forest Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (IF SB RAS) in the city of Krasnoyarsk and the Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (CSBG SB RAS) in the city of Novosibirsk. In 2008–2009 and 2023, on average up to 70 % of the apical leaves of Tatar maple were gnawed. At the same time, the damaged caused to Amur maple (A. tataricum subsp. ginnala (Maxim.) Wesm.), which grew next to Tatar maple in both arboreta, did not exceed 35 %. Insignificant characteristic damage (no more than 5 % of leaves in the lower part of the tree crown) was documented on the European maple (A. platanoides L.) in the IF SB RAS arboretum. There were no signs of damage on the European field maple (A. campestre L.) and the North American maple (A. negundo L.) in the IF SB RAS arboretum and CSBG SB RAS. According to characteristic features, in particular, tight trophic association with Tatar maple (main host), damage type (spunning leaves in early summer and noticeable nibbles on leaves by mid-summer), life cycle (larval development from about the mid May to the end of June, leaving leaf shelters before pupation), the presence of an alien species Ypsolopha chazariella (Mann, 1866) (Ypsolophidae, Lepidoptera) is suspected in two Siberian arboreta. The paper discusses the prospects of using arboreta and botanical gardens for the timely detection of alien insect pests.

Keywords

• aser spp.
• arboreta
• introduced plants
• ypsolopha chazariella
• notable damage
• siberia