Survival and Development of Lymantria mathura (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) on North American, Asian, and European Tree Species

Abstract

The moth Lymantria mathura Moore is a polyphagous defoliator of forest and fruit trees in the Russian Far East, Japan, India, and China, and it would cause serious economic consequences if established in North America. To project the host range of this insect if accidentally introduced into North America, we examined survival and development of 1st instars of L. mathura on 24 broadleafed and conifer tree species from North America, Europe, and Asia. L. mathura performed well on hosts in the family Fagaceae regardless of the species origin. Survival and rate of development on European beech, Fagus grandifolia Ehrh., and American beech, Fagus sylvatica L., was equivalent to survival on oriental oak, Quercus variabilis Blume. Performance of larvae was also high on white oak, Quercus alba L., and chestnut oak, Quercus prinus L. Suitability of other oaks, such as red oak, Quercus rubra L., black oak, Quercus velutina Lamarck, and pin oak, Quercus palustris Muenchh., was intermediate and equivalent to suitability of species from the families Juglandaceae, Betulaceae, and Oleaceae. Survival was poor on hosts from Aceraceae and Pinaceae. Comparison of host preferences and larval survival of L. mathura and of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), indicates differences between these species when tested on the same or congeneric host plants.