Alien phytophagous insects in forest and urban stands of Ukraine*

Abstract

The aim of the research was to present current data on the distribution and development of some alien phytophagous insects in the territory of Ukraine.We considered 19 species of alien phytophagous insects, including 2 species of Coleoptera, 7 Hemiptera (including 4 bug species), 7 Lepidoptera, 2 Hymenoptera, and 1 Diptera. Hyphantria cunea penetrated Ukraine about 70 years ago and sometimes outbreaks in orchards or shelterbelts. Cameraria ohridella and Cydalima perspectalis pose a great threat to Aesculus hippocastanum and Buxus sempervirens, respectively, in urban stands. Parectopa robiniella, Macrosaccus robiniella, Nematus tibialis, and Obolodiplosis robiniae did not attract the attention of researchers until recently, since did not show a noticeable effect on the health condition of Robinia pseudoacacia. Phyllonorycter issikii is not abundant in most parts of Ukraine. Phyllonorycter platani and Corythucha ciliata are not serious pests because their host plant (Platanus sp.) is rather rare in Ukraine. Trichoferus campestris is known long ago but has not yet shown any harmful effects. The threat from sucking insects (aphids and bugs) increases due to their ability to vector tree pathogens. The polyphagous Halyomorpha halys can pose a threat to forest, ornamental and agricultural plants. Leptoglossus occidentalis poses a great danger to the restoration of Scots pine forests because its feeding decreases the seeds’ germination. Corythucha arcuata is found only in two regions but is moving northward and may pose a threat to oak stands. Agrilus planipennis has spread over several years from the eastern border with Russia to the entire Luhansk and partly Kharkiv region, inhabits Fraxinus excelsior and F. pennsylvanica, and can move west.

Who, Where, When, and How? Challenges for Prediction and Control of Forest Damage

“…Among the over 20 alien insects in the forests of Ukraine, the most dangerous are Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910, Corythucha arcuata (Say, 1832), and Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 [20]. The feeding of L. occidentalis reduces the germination of pine seeds [20]. C. arcuata is found only in two regions but is moving northward and may pose a threat to oak stands [21].…”

New food plants for insects Vilbasteana oculata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and Otiorhynchus smreczynskii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Baltic region

“…Both insect species are alien to several European countries, and only O. smreczynskii originates from Europe. So far in Europe V. oculata has been registered from Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Ukraine, and the European part of Russian Federation (Söderman 2005;Söderman et al 2009;Stalažs 2013;Meshkova 2021). V. oculata is treated as potentially invasive for Latvia and Lithuania, as it could be a potential vector of plant pathogens harmful to native Fraxinus excelsior (European ash) stands and seriously reduce the green leaf surface of young ash plants growing in the forest understorey (Stalažs 2013).…”

Forest Site and Stand Structure Affecting the Distribution of Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, 1888 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), in Eastern Ukraine

“…Assessment of the distribution of forest subcompartments with different proportions of the preferred host trees, type of forest site conditions, relative density of stocking, tree age, and origin (seed, vegetative) makes it possible to identify the subcompartments with the highest probability in outbreaks of certain species or groups of phytophagous insects, particularly for the defoliators of Quercus robur L. and Pinus sylvestris L. [23,28], bark beetles in pine forests [29], and some other groups of phytophagous insects [30].…”