Suitability of Turkey Oak, European Beech, and Hornbeam to Gypsy Moth Feeding
2022
Authors:
Milanović, SlobodanMiletić, Zoran
Marković, Čedomir
Šešlija Jovanović, Darka
Trailović, Zoran
Jankovský, Libor
Lazarević, Jelica
Document Type:
Article (Published version)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
Pest resistance of trees should be taken into account in future forest strategy planning and
predicting risks of defoliation. The gypsy moth (GM) (Lymantria dispar L.) is a serious forest pest
with outbreaking population dynamics. To estimate defoliation risk of the most widely distributed
tree species in Balkan Peninsula and Europe (Turkey oak Quercus cerris L., European beech Fagus
sylvatica L. and hornbeam Carpinus betulus L.), we carried out laboratory feeding trials and investigated
their acceptability and suitability for GM development. We determined morphological and
chemical attributes of these hosts as well as larval host preference, growth and nutritional indices.
Preference, growth, and efficiency of food conversion into biomass were ranked in the order: Turkey
oak > European beech > hornbeam. Hornbeam was the most avoided and showed the lowest conversion
efficiency although, comparing to optimal oak host, its leaves were less tough, contained more
water and exhibited similar values of nitrogen (index of protein content) and C/N ratio (index of
investment into carbon based plant defense). We suggest that hornbeam and beech leaf chemical
profiles should be further studied to reveal specific compounds that impose high metabolic cost
to GM larvae. Moreover, additional research are needed to understand how intermediate hosts in
natural populations affect GM outbreaks.
Keywords:
Lymantria dispar L.; Insect–host plant relationship; Intermediate hosts; Feeding preference; Larval growth; Leaf consumption; Metabolic cost; Defoliation riskSource:
Forests, 2022, 13, 7, 1006-Funding / projects:
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200007 (University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković') (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200007)
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200169 (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry) (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200169)
DOI: 10.3390/f13071006
ISSN: 1999-4907