Entomol.rom., 11: 5-7, 2006 ISSN 1224 - 2594

The occurrence of issikii (Ku m a t a , 1963) and Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859), two invasive leafminer species in the fauna of Romania (, )

Zoltán Ko v á c s , Sándor Ko v á c s , Csaba Sz a b ó k y

Abstract:

Two Gracillarid species, the Eastern Asian species Phyllonorycter issikii (Ku m a t a , 1963), which mines the leaves of Tilia species, and the North American species Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859), mining the leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia L., are reported from Romania for the first time.

Rezumat

Phyllonorycter issikii (Ku m a t a , 1963) şi Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859), două specii min- iere invazive în fauna României (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae)

Două specii miniere din familia Gracillariidae sunt semnalate pentru prima oară din fauna de lepidoptere a României. Specia Phyllonorycter issikii (Ku m a t a , 1963) este originară din estul Asiei şi minează în frunzele speciilor de Tilia. Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859) este o specie Nord- Americană ca şi planta ei gazdă, Robinia pseudoacacia L., în a cărei frunze minează. Sunt prezentate date de biologie şi de răspândire în Europa pentru fiecare specie în parte. Răspândirea lor în România este prezentată pe hărţi UTM (Fig.1 şi 2).

Key words: biogeography, Romania, Phyllonorycter, Gracillariidae, Lepidoptera.

Two invasive lifeminer Gracillarid species VIII. 2005. (Cs. Sz a b ó k y legit, coll. S. & Z. Ko- are reported from Romania for the first time. Phyl- v á c s ); same locality, 10. VIII. 2005. - mines on Tilia lonorycter issikii (Ku m a t a , 1963) is an Eastern platyphyllos (legit & coll. S. & Z. Ko v á c s ); Carpaţii Asian species, which mines the leaves of Tilia spe- Orientali, Depresiunea Giurgeului, 800 m, Joseni cies. Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859) and (jud. Harghita) (KZ 87), 7. VIII. 2005. - mines on its host plant, Robinia pseudoacacia L. are North (legit & coll. Cs. Sz a b ó k y ) (Fig. 1). American species. Both lifeminer species are al- ready widely distributed in Europe. Native in Eastern Asia, estimated to be intro- Their actually, only little known distribution duced to Eastern Europe during the 70s (Še f r o v á in Romania is illustrated on a UTM map (Fig. 1 and 2002b). Reached Central Europe in 2000 (Hungary, 2), which is a corrected, unfortunately less known the Czech and the Slovak Republic), now is nearly version (Pa ş c o v i c i & Ci o c h i a 1979), so in brackets omnipresent in Europe, locally rather abundant, there are also mentioned the wrong, but more acces- reaching about 700 m above sea level. It prefers sible coordinates (Le h r e r 1977). trees growing in forest stands and lower branches of trees in parks, avenues, churchyards, etc. Hosts are Phyllonorycter issikii (Ku m a t a , 1963) the Tilia species. The species develops two seasonal forms Material studied: Carpaţii Orientali, Munţii (V-IX.), whereby its winter form adults hibernate. Gurghiu, 700 m, Topliţa (jud. Harghita) (KA 70), 7. The larva is yellowish white, makes a blotch mine VIII. 2005. - mines on Tilia cordata (legit & coll. on the underside. It moderately pulls the leaves to- Cs. Sz a b ó k y ); Carpaţii Orientali, Munţii Ciucului, gether. The faeces are in a pile at one end of the 800 m, Ghimeş Făget, railway station (jud. Bacău) mine (Še f r o v á 2002a; Cs ó k a 2003). (LZ 26), 8. VIII. 2005. - mines on Tilia cordata (le- The low number of the mines found in each git & coll. Cs. Sz a b ó k y ); Carpaţii Orientali, Depre- Romanian site shows no influence on the aesthetic siunea Ciucului, 700 m, Miercurea Ciuc, Ciuboteni appearance of the trees and does not causes prema- (jud. Harghita) (LZ 03), 8. VIII. 2005. - mines on ture drying of the leaves. and 1 female emerged on 15. The species should be placed in the check- 5 Fig. 1. The distributional map of Phyllonorycter issikii (Ku m a t a , 1963) in Romania.

Fig. 2. The distributional map of Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859) in Romania.

6 list of the Romanian Lepidoptera (Rá k o s y , Go i a & the aesthetic appearance of the trees and probable Ko v á c s 2003) with the number 568a, following the significantly decreases the black locust’s productiv- species Phyllonorycter insignitella (Ze l l e r , 1846). ity. The species should be placed in the checklist Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859) of the Romanian Lepidoptera (Rá k o s y , Go i a & Ko- v á c s op. cit.) with the number 584a, following the Material studied: Carpaţii Orientali, Munţii species Phyllonorycter rajella (Li n n a e u s , 1758). Bodoc, 650 m, Alungeni (LZ 20), 23. X. 2004. - 5 specimens (legit & coll. S. & Z. Ko v á c s ); Carpaţii References Orientali, Depresiunea Ciucului, 650 m, Miercurea Ciuc (LZ 03), 20. X. 2005. - mines on Robinia pseu- Cs ó k a Gy. 2003. Levélaknák és levélaknázók - Leaf doacacia L. including 2 specimens emerged on 25. mines and leaf miners. Hungarian Forest Re- X. 2005. and 1 XI. 2005. (legit & coll. S. & Z. Ko- search Institute. Erdészeti Tudományos Intézet, v á c s ) (Fig. 2). Agroinform Kiadó: 1-192. Budapest. Le h r e r A. Z. 1977. Codul biocartografic al princi- It is native in the Eastern and Central-West- palelor localităţi din R. S. România. Editura ern part of the USA. It was first time reported from Dacia: 1-246. Cluj-Napoca. Europe in Basle (Switzerland) in 1983 and from Pa ş c o v i c i V. D., Ci o c h i a V. 1979. Index codificat al it extended to France, Germany, northern Italy localităţilor din Republica Socialistă România pentru cartografieri tematice de biogeografie. (1988), Austria (1989), and Slova- Centrul de multiplicare al Academiei de Ştiinţe kia (1992), reaching Hungary in 1996 (Sz a b ó k y & Agricole şi Silvice: 1-259. Bucureşti. Cs ó k a 1997). In 1999 it was first recorded in Po- Rá k o s y L., Go i a M., Ko v á c s Z. 2003. Catalogul land. Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859) Lepidopterelor din România / Verzeichnis and Parectopa robiniella (Cl e m e n s , 1859) (record- der Schmetterlinge Rumäniens. Societatea ed from Romania by Ru ş t i in 1994, further data by Lepidopterologică Română: 1-446. Cluj-Na- Rá k o s y , Go i a & Ko v á c s op. cit.) are the main pests poca. of Robinia pseudoacacia L. leaves. Black locust, Ru ş t i D. 1994. Additional data to the checklist of native to North America, was introduced to Europe Romanian Lepidoptera (Insecta, Lepidoptera). in the early 17th century as an ornamental tree, to- Trav. Mus. Hist. nat. “Grigore Antipa”, 34: 81- day also an important and widespread tree in forest 93. Bucureşti. plantations. Še f r o v á H. 2002a. Phyllonorycter robiniella (Cle- The monophagous species develops three mens, 1859) - egg, larva, bionomics and its overlapping generations per year (VI-X.). The white spread in Europe (Lepidoptera, Gracillarii- caterpillars make oval blotch mines on the underside dae). Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel., 50(3): of the leaves. The mine never crosses the midrib. 7-12. Brun. Regularly, mainly if the population density is high, Še f r o v á H. 2002b. Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata, more than one mine can be found on a leaf. These 1963) - bionomics, ecological impact and mines often merge each other and therefore some- spread in Europe (Lepidoptera, Gracillarii- times even 15 larvae can be found in one mine. The dae). Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel., 50(3): fully grown larvae pupate in oval, white cocoons 99-104. Brun. Sz a b ó k y Cs., Cs ó k a Gy. 1997. Phyllonorycter robin- within the mine (Cs ó k a 2003). iella Clemens, 1859, new species of leafminers The large number of Phyllonorycter robiniel- in Hungary. Növényvédelem (Plant Protection), la (Cl e m e n s , 1859) mines found in Miercurea Ciuc 33(11): 569-571. causes premature leaf drop influencing negatively

Zoltán Ko v á c s Sándor Ko v á c s Csaba Sz a b ó k y România, RO - 530224 România, RO - 520027 Hungary, HU - 1034 Budapest, Miercurea Ciuc, Sfântu Gheorghe, Bécsi u. 88. str. Timişoarei nr. 31. ap. 6, str. Oltului nr. 57. bl. 6. sc. A. e-mail: [email protected], ap. 6, [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

Received: 8.01.2007 Accepted: 17.08.2007 Printed: 24.12.2007 7