See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/280157950 First record of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Greece ARTICLE in HELLENIC PLANT PROTECTION JOURNAL · JULY 2015 READS 46 6 AUTHORS, INCLUDING: Filitsa Karamaouna Benaki Phytopathological Institute 18 PUBLICATIONS 179 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE P. G. Milonas 45 PUBLICATIONS 295 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Available from: Nikos E. Papanikolaou Retrieved on: 30 September 2015 Hellenic Plant Protection Journal 8: 66-72, 2015 DOI 10.1515/hppj-2015-0010 SHORT COMMUNICATION First record of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Greece I. Strachinis1, C. Kazilas1, F. Karamaouna2*, N.E. Papanikolaou3, G.K. Partsinevelos3 and P.G . Milonas 3 Summary The study concerns the fi rst records for the presence of the box tree moth Cydalima per- spectalis in Greece and subsequent infestations on ornamental box trees in urban environment. Adults of the pest were fi rst spotted in six locations around the country from October 2013 until April 2015, when infestation was also detected (mid April). The pest was found infesting plants of Buxus sempervi- rens in several private and public gardens and parks in the urban environment of Kifi ssia, Attica. Possi- ble introduction scenarios, as well as preventive and control measures are discussed. Additional keywords: alien species, box tree moth, Buxus, invasive The box tree moth Cydalima perspectal- the box tree moth was recorded for the is (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) fi rst time in Thermi, Thessaloniki, northern (synonyms: Diaphania perspectalis, Glyphodes Greece, in October 2013 (Theodosis Mamais, perspectalis) is an invasive species on box personal communication). On 18 May 2014, tree Buxus spp., in Europe, which has been two adults C. perspectalis were found and spreading and establishing across the conti- collected by the fi rst author (IS) in the city nent during the last decade. The pest was in- of Thessaloniki (40.608°, 22.971°) [vouch- cluded in the alert list of the European Plant er numbers: NHMC.85.01.16129.01 and Protection Organisation (EPPO) in 2007 but NHMC.85.01.16129.02, Natural History Mu- was removed in 2011 because no particu- seum of Crete] and a photograph of a spec- lar action was requested by the EPPO mem- imen from Thessaloniki taken on May 20, ber countries (EPPO, 2011). However, the box 2014 was published http://www.lepidop- tree moth could be a serious threat for nat- tera.eu/ContributorPics.php?ID=1688 (pho- ural habitats of wild Buxus in Europe (Bella, tograph by Theodosis Mamais). On 17 July 2013) and a major pest of ornamental Buxus 2014, the second author (CK) found anoth- in urban landscape, at historical and decora- er specimen at Ano Lechonia village, Peli- tive gardens and parks where they are high- on mountain (Figure 1) (39.328°, 23.058°). ly used as design plants (EPPO, 2012; Seljak, Four more observations made by diff erent 2012) as well as in nursery production (Leu- citizens followed: on 22 July 2014 an adult thardt and Baur, 2013). specimen was photographed by Dimitris T. Herein we provide the fi rst records of Kaloutsikos in Drama city (41.153°, 24.117°); C. perspectalis in Greece. The presence of on 22 August 2014 Savvas Vassiliadis photo- graphed another specimen in Katerini city 1 School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (40.303°, 22.501°); on 27 August 2014 Ersi Au- (A.U.Th.), Greece gustidou observed and photographed the 2 Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharma- species in Kalamaria, Thessaloniki (40.586°, cy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta Str., GR-145 61, Kifi ssia, Attica, Greece 22.941°); in September 2014 Lia Naki pho- 3 Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zool- tographed an adult specimen in Kifi ssia, At- ogy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 Stefanou Delta Str., GR-145 61, Kifi ssia, Attica, Greece tica (38.066°, 23.818°). Locations of the fi rst *Corresponding author: [email protected] records of C. perspectalis are indicated in the © Benaki Phytopathological Institute First record of Cydalima perspectalis in Greece 67 map of Figure 2. All specimens recorded had lands (Muus et al., 2009), Switzerland (Käp- the white colour form. The aforementioned peli, 2008; Sigg, 2009), France (Feldtrau- citizens contacted the fi rst two authors re- er et al., 2009), Austria and Liechtenstein questing species identifi cation and provid- (Rodeland, 2009), United Kingdom (Mitchell, ed us their data, thus we include their obser- 2009), Belgium (Casteels et al., 2011), Hunga- vations in this short communication, having ry (Sáfi án and Horváth, 2011), Czech Repub- their written permission. lic ( umpich, 2011), Romania (Székely et al., Heavy infestation by larvae of C. perspec- 2011), Italy (Griff o et al., 2012; Tantardini et al., talis was observed on plants of Buxus semper- 2012), Slovenia (Seljak, 2012), Turkey (Hizal virens grown as a tree and in border shrubs et al., 2012), Croatia (Koren and Črne, 2012), at Benaki Phytopathological Institute and Slovakia (Pastorális et al., 2013), Denmark several private and public gardens and parks (Hobern, 2013), Chechen Republic (Russia) in Kifi ssia, Athens, in mid April 2015 (Figures (Proklov and Karayeva, 2013), Spain (Pérez- 3, 4). The plants had a dry appearance and Otero et al., 2014; Pino Perez and Pino Perez, were covered by dense webs (Figure 3). This 2014) and Bulgaria (Beshkov et al., 2015). This is the fi rst report of C. perspectalis as a pest in is the fi rst record of the pest in Greece. Greece with evidence of its consequent in- The main host plants of C. perspectalis festation. Samples of infested shoots were are Buxus species (common names box tree, transferred to Benaki Phytopathological In- box, boxwood), including B. sempervirens L., stitute and kept in cages (30 x 30 cm) at 25 B. microphylla Siebold & Zucc., B. sinica (Reh- oC, 16:8 L:D h until pupation of the larvae. Pu- der and Wils.) M. Cheng and B. colchica Pojark pae were collected and placed in plastic con- (Buxaceae). In its origin countries, the pest tainers until adult emergence (Figure 5). For- has also been reported on Euonymus japoni- ty one adults emerged; thirty fi ve presented cus Thunb., E. alatus (Thunb.) Siebold (Celas- the white colour form and six of them the traceae), Ilex purpurea Hassk. (Aquifoliaceae), brown colour form (Figures 1, 6). Pachysandra terminalis Siebold & Zucc. and The box tree moth is native to subtropi- Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (Rutaceae), but cal regions of eastern Asia (India, China, Ko- there are no reports of these plant species rea, Japan and the Russian Far East) (Walker, being attacked in Europe (Wang, 2008; Hizal 1859; Hampson, 1896; Inoue, 1982; Kirpich- et al., 2012; Bella, 2013; Plantwise Knowledge nikova, 2005; Park, 2008; Leraut, 2012). It was Bank, 2015). Box trees are evergreen shrubs introduced in Europe and was recorded for and small trees. Buxus sempervirens lives in the first time in south-western Germany in 2006 (Krüger, 2008). It spread rapidly across Europe and it is now present in the Nether- Figure 2. Locations of the fi rst records of Cydalima perspec- Figure 1. Specimen of Cydalima perspectalis from Ano Lecho- talis in Greece: A) Drama, B) Katerini, C) Kalamaria, Thessal- nia, Pelion mountain: adult of white colour form (Photograph oniki, D) Kifi ssia, Attica, IS) Thessaloniki and CK) Ano Lecho- by C. Kazilas). nia, Pelion mountain. © Benaki Phytopathological Institute 68 Strachinis et al. Figure 3. Infestation of Buxus sempervirens by Cydalima perspectalis in Kifi ssia, Attica, Greece. Figure 4. Mature larvae of Cydalima perspectalis on infestated twigs of Buxus sempervirens. species grown in nurseries, parks and pub- lic and private gardens. The ornamental Bux- us species and varieties met in Greece are B. the wild in diff erent habitats, in open phry- sempervirens, B. sempervirens ‘Rotundifolia’, B. gana and forest areas in a large part of Eu- microphylla and B. microphylla ‘Faulkner’. rope (Di Domenico et al., 2011) whereas boxes The adult of C. perspectalis has a wing- are also economically important ornamental span of 3.5-4 cm, which makes it a large spe- © Benaki Phytopathological Institute First record of Cydalima perspectalis in Greece 69 cies among European Crambidae (Székely Infestation symptoms include feeding et al., 2011). Two colour forms of adults have damage on the leaves of the shoot edges by been described, the white one, which is the the larvae, which can leave only leaf skele- most common, and the melanic one, be- tons and the epidermis behind them. Larvae ing less common. In the white form, adults can also attack the bark (Leuthardt and Baur, have white, slightly iridescent wings with a 2013). Other associated symptoms are web- large dark brown band at the margin and bing of the branches, frass and residues of a characteristic white spot in the discoidal moulting such as black capsules of diff erent cell only in the forewings (Mally and Nuss, sizes. Heavy infestation leads to dry plants 2010). In the melanic form, the wings are and their defoliation, which combined with completely brown with the exception of a the subsequent attack of the bark results in white discoidal spot on the forewings (Fig- the death of the plant. Box trees with a low ure 6). Eggs are laid in clusters of 5-20 on level of damage are often able to recover the underside of the leaves (Leuthardt and if they do not suff er from renewed attacks. Baur, 2013); they are pale yellow when laid However, severely damaged boxes in an area and black heads of the larvae are visible be- where C. perspectalis has established are less fore hatching. The late instar larvae have a likely to survive.