The leaf miners of black locust

Abstract

In the last 35 years, the black locust trees in Europe have been invadated by two leaf miner species from Gracillariidae family (Parectopa robiniella Clemens - 1863 and Phyllonorycter robiniella Clemens -1859) originating from North America. Parectopa robiniella came in Europe in 1970, in Italy and Phyllonorycter robiniella in 1983 in Switzerland. The species recorded a spreading rate of about 100 km/year, both of them reaching Romania after about 18 years from their arrival in Europe. Parectopa robiniella has particularly infested Romanian forest cultures severely causing important disturbances.