Damage Level of Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Naturally Growing and Ornamental Box Populations in Artvin, Turkey

OpenAlex İngilizce

Aim of study: The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an important alien invasive species on box, Buxus sempervirens, in Turkey. It was first detected in 2011 in Istanbul. It is a native pest of box plants in Asia. Its first discovery in Europe has been made in 2007 in Germany. Since then it has been successfully established in various ecosystems in Europe. Caterpillars feed on box leaves and cause severe defoliation and tree deaths. In this study, damage level and defoliation percentage were investigated on ornamental and naturally growing box plants. Area of study: Box plants were sampled in Artvin in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. Material and Method: A total of 90 box plants that were either naturally growing or ornamental box plants were sampled Main results: Majority of the naturally growing box plants (63.4%) had strong and very strong damages, and 71.4% of the ornamental box plants had middle and strong damage levels. Research highlights: Of the all observed plants, 53.4% had 40-100% defoliation and 25% of these plants did not recover.