Пловдив Аграрни Науки Година Viii Брой 19 2016

Аграрен университет – Пловдив АГРАРНИ НАУКИ Година VIII Брой 19 2016

LEPIDOPTERAN SPECIES (INSECTA: LEPIDOPTERA) FEEDING ON SAXAULS (AMARANTHACEAE) IN DESERT AREAS OF SOUTH-EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN

Nagima Tumenbayeva1*, Bagdavlet Taranov1, Dimitar Grekov2, Vili Harizanova2

1Kazakh National Agrarian University, Kazakhstan, Almaty 2Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Bulgaria

*E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract In Kazakhstan saxaul plays an important role in maintaining the balance of the desert ecosystems, which represent a considerable part of the country. Due to their extensive root system, saxaul plants prevent desert areas from shifting sands. Nowadays the area of naturally occurring saxauls is seriously limited under the influence of anthropogenic and some biotic factors. Insects feeding on leaves, flowers, seeds, tunneling the stems, shoots and roots cause changes in its growth and development and influence the life span. In 2013–2014 a total of 34 species belonging to 13 Lepidoptera families were found to damage saxauls in the desert zone of South-Eastern Kazakhstan, Almaty region, Balkash and Jambul, the region of Moinkum.

Key words: saxaul, insect pests, Lepidoptera, species composition.

INTRODUCTION There are a lot of pests of saxauls in the re- One of the major goals of modern world is gion of its present distribution, the damage and eco- preservation of biodiversity. Related to this a number nomic importance of which, have been described and of international and national strategies for preserva- evaluated (Parfentev, 1958). The saxaul longhorn tion of rare and threatened of extinction species in beetle, Turcmenigena varentzovi Melgunov is able the flora and fauna in situ and ex situ are being de- to kill infested trees either itself or in association with veloped. Woodlands of Kazakhstan constitute 4% of a cossid Holcocera campiola or saxaul buprestids of the entire territory of the country. Of them 2% are the genus Shperoptera (Plavilshchikov, 1940; Mari- saxauls. Priority directions have been developed in kovskii, 1955; Maslov, 1988). The saxaul locust Dery- the National Action plan for preservation of biodiver- coris albidula (Orthoptera: Dericorythidae) is a major sity of Kazakhstan. pest of saxaul plants in Iran, causing severe damage There are two species of saxaul in Kaza- in different growth periods (Adeli and Abaei,1989; khstan: black saxaul (Haloxylon ammodendron Moniri, 1998). In Guerbantonggute desert in China (С.А.Мey) Bunge - (Synonym: Haloxylon aphyllum where Haloxylon persicum is the main plant, Xue et (Minkw.) Jljin. And white saxaul (H. persicum Bunge al. (2006) described a new species from Lepidop- ex Boiss & Buhse). Their area of distribution coin- tera (Geometridae): Desertobia heloxylonia Xue, cides with the margins of the deserts of the tem- sp. nov., which is seriosly damaging saxaul plants perate zone of Eastern, Central, and Western Asia. (XUE Da- Yong et al., 2006). Three pest species are Saxauls are salty-soil desert plants, shrubs or trees, mentioned in a study of Shamzadeh & Baghestani up to 12 m tall. May occur alone or in mixed strands. (2003) damaging saxauls in Algeria: a jumping plant Saxaul plays great role in maintaining the balance lice Caillarida inedita (Homoptera: Psyllidae), Achrus in the desert ecosystems, which are considerable taghizadahi (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and a moth part of Kazakhstan. Due to its extensive root sys- Proceratia caesariella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). tem it prevents the invasion of the desert sands. The According to previous reports of Nurmura- territories occupied by saxaul nowadays are being tov (Nurmuratov, 1970; Nurmuratov, 1970a; Nurmu- seriously reduced under the influence of anthropo- ratov, 1971; Nurmuratov, 1979) last century in the genic and other factors. Limitation of further reduc- pastures with saxauls there were cases of very high tion of the territories could be achieved by cultivation population density of lepidopteran pests, like leafrol- of saxaul as a crop. Survival rate of plants in these ler moths, owlet moths, grasshoppers, gall midges, cultivated plantations is very low. psyllids, etc. Such species damaged saxaul plants

69 Agricultural University – Plovdiv AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Volume VIII Issue 19 2016 and almost destroyed their populations on vast ter- data about the biology of the species (number of ge- ritories. In 1967 the average population density of the nerations, stage, etc.). The light provided by the light moth Pseudohodena immunda Ev. on the pastures trap was with the same wave length during the entire of Betpakdala desert reached up to 124 larvae/m2 on monitoring period. Intervals between sampling were an area of 500 000 ha (Nurmuratov, 1973). In the Ili chosen depending on the season and time of day. desert in 1969 a high population density of the larvae Barber pitfall traps – plastic caps with fix- of another moth (Pzeudohodena immunda Ev) has ing liquid, were placed in the collection sites using been recorded on area of 50 000 ha. On a single tree a definite scheme. Time of exposition depended on (shrub) 90 cm tall 162 larvae have been counted, and the condition of the biotope, weather conditions and on others – from 45 to 118 (Nurmuratov, 1973). season. All kind of transformations taking place in RESULTS AND DISCUSSION the environment of wildlife, including insects, cause As a result of the current study in the desert changes in their species composition, distribution, zone of South-Eastern Kazakhstan, Almaty region, population density and harmul activity, eventually Balkash and Jambul region of Moinkum, a total of 34 are changing their role and impact in ecosystems. lepidopteran species were identified (Table 1). Having in mind the negative impact of anthropogenic Among the species from Lepidoptera feed- factors on Kazakhstan’s fauna, low level of nature ing on vegetative organs of saxaul the most dama- protecting activities, insufficient knowledge about ging are those from Noctuidae, Scythrididae and lepidopteran fauna, a prediction could be maid that Geometridae. without intensive research and actions for protection, On seeds, flowers and shoots four species more than half of the plant species will dissapear were found to feed: from Noctuidae, Pyralidae, Tort- until the 3-decade of 21 century with all the related ricidae and Erebidae. The adult of most of the pests negative consequences (Taranov, 2011). is feeding complementary on flower nectar. Insects, as one of the most important biotic Twenty seven species are feeding on the factors, have a significant impact on seed germi- vegetative organs, four - on the generative organs, nation and survival of young seedling of cultivated four species are feeding on both vegetative and saxauls and at any of its phenological stages. Insect generative organs, and 2 species are damaging the species, feeding on leaves, flowers, seeds, tunneling roots (Table 1). Some of the lepidopteran families the stems, shoots and roots cause changes in its de- are presented by only one species. According to us, velopment and influence the life span. the number of lepidopteran species – pests of sax- Lepidopteran entomofauna on saxaul plants auls is much greater. is composed of many polyphagous and oligopha- Species, influencing the growth of sax- gous species, damaging roots, vegetative and gene- aul plants were divided to the following ecological rative plant organs. In spring first-year plantations groups: commonly found and constantly damaging are heavily damaged by polyphagous pests which species; complex of species with low population cause decrease in survival rate of seedlings and density, but capable of rapid mass reproduction; young plants. specialized species, dwelling on only one plant. These facts require further research on the Regarding the host specificity, 12 of the entomofauna on saxaul plants, including from Lepi- pests are narrow olygophagous, 7 are broad olygo- doptera, found in the desert zone of South-Eastern phagous, 2 аre olygophagous, 11 are polyphagous Kazakhstan. and 2 are monophagous, feeding only on saxauls (Table 1). MATERIALS AND METHODS Regarding the seasonal occurrence the lepi- For field collection of insects standard ento- dopteran pests found on saxaul plans were divided mological methods have been used (Fasulati, 1971, to spring, summer, and autumn species: etc.) with some modifications. For evaluation of the - spring occurring species (14): Holcocerus population density of the lepidopteran species at the campiocola and H. inspersus (Cossidae); Coleo- different sites in respect to ecological groups and in- phora haloxyli (Coleophoridae); Scythris cirra and sect developmental stages, the methods used were Scythris haloxylella (Scythrididae); Scrobipalpa sp. developed by Yahontov (1969), Gilyarov (1975), etc. (Gelechiidae); Anoristia atrisparsella (Pyralidae); For monitoring of the species these methods were Celerio lineata (Sphingidae); Zygaena truchmena unified. Light traps were used for collection of noc- (Zygaenidae); Paraphtorarcha kasachstanika (Geo- turnal species, placed periodically at the same sites metridae); Caradrina albina, Athetis quadripunctata, or as close as possible to the previous collection site. Diadochia esurialis, and Pseudopseustis striolata Samples were taken at fixed intervals in order to get (Noctuidae).

70 Аграрен университет – Пловдив АГРАРНИ НАУКИ Година VIII Брой 19 2016

Table 1. Species composition of insect pests (Lepidoptera) damaging saxaul (Haloxylon spp.) in the desert zone of South-Eastern Kazakhstan

Organothrophic N Family/Species Host plant specialization Host specificity

Cossidae Holcocerus campiocola 1 (Eversmann, 1854) Haloxylon spp. root, stem narrow olygophagous Holcocerus inspersus 2 Christoph, 1887 Haloxylon spp. root narrow olygophagous Tortricidae Phtheochroa subfumida 3 (Falkovitsch, 1963) Haloxylon spp. seeds polyphagous Coleophoridae Coleophora haloxyli 4 Falkovitsh,1972 Haloxylon spp. shoots narrow olygophagous Casignetella gallivora 5 (Falkovitsh, 1970) Haloxylon spp. stem monophagous Scythrididae 6 Scythris cirra Falkovitsh, 1969 Haloxylon spp. shoots narrow olygophagous Scythris haloxylella 7 Falkovich, 1969 Haloxylon spp. shoots broad olygophagous Gelechiidae 8 Scrobipalpa sp. Haloxylon spp. leaves monophagous Pyralidae Anoristia atrisparsella 9 Haloxylon spp. shoots broad olygophagous Ragonot, 1887 10 Species not identified 1 Haloxylon spp. seeds narrow olygophagous 11 Species not identified 2 Haloxylon spp. seeds narrow olygophagous Sphingidae 12 Celerio lineata livornica Esp. Haloxylon spp. shoots polyphagous Zygaenidae Zygaena truchmena 13 Eversmann, 1854 Haloxylon spp. shoots broad olygophagous Geometridae 14 Paraphtorarcha kasachstanika Stsh. Haloxylon spp. shoots narrow olygophagous Lasiocampidae Lasiocampa eversmanni Kochia prostrata, 15 (Eversmann, 1843) Haloxylon spp. shoots, leaves polyphagous Noctuidae Euxoa conspicua Kochia prostrata, 16 (Hubner, 1825) Haloxylon spp. shoots, leaves polyphagous 17 Cardepia irrisor (Erschoff,1874) Haloxylon spp. shoots, seeds broad olygophagous 18 Hadula ptochica (Püngeler, 1899) Haloxylon spp. shoots, seeds narrow olygophagous 19 Thargelia fissilis Christoph 1884 Haloxylon spp. leaves, shoots broad olygophagous 20 Thargelia sitiens Püngeler 1914 Haloxylon spp. leaves, shoots narrow olygophagous 21 Thargelia distincta Cristoph, 1884 Haloxylon spp. leaves olygophagous Pseudohadena chenopodiphaga 22 (Rambur, 1832) Haloxylon spp. shoots, seeds narrow olygophagous Pseudohadena immunda 23 Eversmann, 1842 Haloxylon spp. leaves, shoots polyphagous Pseudohadena immunis 24 Staudinger, 1889 Haloxylon spp. leaves, shoots polyphagous 25 Pseudohadena siri Erschoff, 1874 Haloxylon spp. leaves, shoots broad olygophagous Caradrina albina 26 Eversmann, 1848 Haloxylon spp. shoots polyphagous Athetis quadripunctata 27 Fabricius, 1775 Haloxylon spp. shoots polyphagous 28 Diadochia esurialis Pungeler 1914 Haloxylon spp. shoots broad olygophagous 29 Pseudopseustis elinguis (Püngeler, 1914) Haloxylon spp. leaves narrow olygophagous Pseudopseustis striolata 30 (Filipjev, 1949) Haloxylon spp. shoots olygophagous Scythocentropus scripturosa 31 (Eversmann 1854) Haloxylon spp. seeds narrow olygophagous Erebidae Lacydes spectabilis Haloxylon spp. 32 (Tauscher, 1806) Ceratoides spp. shoots, leaves polyphagous 33 Tancrea pardalina Püngeler, 1898 Haloxylon spp. shoots, leaves polyphagous

Haloxylon spp. 34 Orgyia dubia (Tauscher, 1806) Ceratoides spp. shoots, leaves, seeds polyphagous Kochia prostrata

71 Agricultural University – Plovdiv AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Volume VIII Issue 19 2016

Fig. 1. Larva of Orgyia dubia Tausch. on saxaul (Noctuidae)

- summer occurring species (14): Ca- CONCLUSIONS signetella gallivora (Coleophoridae); Lasiocampa 1. Species from Lepidoptera represent the eversmanni (Lasiocampidae); Euxoa conspicua, most important insect group in deserts, having the Thargelia fissilis, T. sitiens, Pseudopseustis elinguis, greatest biological diversity. As a result of the study Thargelia distincta, Pseudohadena immunda, P. im- in the desert zone of South-East Kazahkstan a total munnis, P. siri and P. Chenopodiphaga (Noctuidae); of 34 species were identified to feed on saxaul. Lacydes spectabilis, Tancrea pardalina and Orgyia 2. For the specialized species, peculiarities dubia (Erabidae). - autumn occurring species (7): Phtheochroa in phenology and annual life cycles are reflection of subfumida (Tortricidae); unidentified species 1 and 2 their adaptability to saxaul plants. (Pyralidae); Cardepia irrisor, Hadula ptochica, Scy- 3. Among the studied species, most are thocentropus scripturosa (Noctuidae). commonly found on saxauls by the beginning of Our study revealed that in nurseries for cul- summer. tivation first year plantations of saxaul in spring are 4. During the hot summer months the most heavily damaged by polyphagous pests, like number of flying lepidopteran adults rapidly de- Euxoa conspicua, causing reduced survival of seed- creases, the development of many is interrupted lings and retarded growth of young plants. Saxaul and the flight is resumed in autumn. In autumn plants are damaged mainly by polyphagous species there is an increase in the number of species and (Noctuidae), feeding on the shoots; olygophagous, their population density. feeding on shoots; specialized carpophagous, feeding on generative organs. In the seed samples there 5. Organothrophic specialization of the iden- were specialized species from families Cecidomyi- tified species feeding on saxauls was established. A idae and Coleophoridae. It was estimated that the total of 27 species are feeding on vegetative organs, damage caused by feeding of insects on saxaul may 4 – with generative organs, 4 - both with vegetative reach 20 to 80% (Coleophoridae). Several species and generative organs and 2 – with roots. are feeding on leaves, stems and shoots.

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