Submit to Forests Review for Forests Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2021) | Viewed by 36885

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rostislav Zemek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Interests: arthropod ecology and behavior; insect and mite pests and their natural enemies; predator–prey interactions; biological pest control; entomopathogenic fungi
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Katarína Pastirčáková

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Plant Pathology and Mycology, Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Nitra, Slovakia
Interests: fungal diseases of woody plants; pathogen biology; fungal taxonomy and diversity; plant protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Trees are very important elements of public open space, that is, city parks, gardens, urban forests, and other places whose primary function is to offer green space and recreation to residents and visitors. Compared to production forests, woody plant vegetation grown in and around human settlements is mostly valued for the following benefits: beauty, providing shade, reducing the urban heat island effect, and providing habitat for wildlife. However, urban trees are threatened by many pests and pathogens, both native and invasive species. For example, the ornamental function of thousands of horse chestnut trees in Europe is hampered every season by Cameraria ohridella infestation which causes substantial aesthetic damage to leaves and premature leaf shedding. In addition, the same tree species is attacked by Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi (the causal agent of bleeding canker), the pathogenic fungus Guignardia aesculi, and the powdery mildew species Erysiphe flexuosa. The combined infestation by these organisms can have a severe negative impact on horse chestnut tree health.

Growing trees close to buildings, streets, asphalt paths, and concrete-covered open spaces often lowers tree vigor due to soil compaction and the impermeability of the surface of the substrate under these trees to water and nutrients. The proximity to busy roads, factories, and other sources of pollution further weakens urban trees, which in turn become less resistant to pests and pathogens. Changes of abiotic factors such as temperature and humidity due to global warming are likely to affect the development and survival of the pests and pathogens, as well as their natural enemies, competitors, and vectors. It is also expected that climate change might have the potential to turn usually harmless species into damaging organisms, through effects on the host plant physiology. The combination of adverse abiotic factors and damage inflicted by native and non-native pests and pathogens might thus escalate tree health problems in municipal green space in future.

This Special Issue aims to present the recent advances in the knowledge on arthropod pests and pathogens specific to the trees grown in and around cities. Relevant topics include but are not limited to: diversity, new emerging and invasive species, population dynamics, dispersal, antagonistic interactions, the effect of natural enemies, pollution and climate change, pest management, methods, and simulation models.

This Special Issue will concentrate on the cutting-edge research in this field of insect, plant, and pathogen interactions; the detection and identification of tree pests and pathogens using innovative tools; as well as ecological and field studies in urban trees.

This Special Issue will accept studies from broad research topics related to pests and pathogens of urban trees. Studies conducted in the field are preferred, but laboratory studies as well as theoretical approaches (simulation modelling studies and literature reviews) are also of interest. Short Communications on methods or presenting preliminary but significant results will also be considered.

Dr. Rostislav Zemek
Dr. Katarína Pastirčáková
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

city parks
ornamental trees
tree pests
tree pathogens
invasive species
population dynamics
dispersal
damage
pest and disease management
natural enemies
arthropod–pathogen interactions
climate change
abiotic factors
pollution

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 678 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees

by Rostislav Zemek and Katarína Pastirčáková

Forests 2023, 14(8), 1653; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14081653 - 16 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1198

Abstract

Trees play a vital role in enhancing public open spaces, such as city parks, gardens, inter-block spaces of greenery, urban forests, and recreational areas, providing green spaces and leisure opportunities for both residents and visitors [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

15 pages, 1857 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Changes and the Interaction between the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner Cameraria ohridella and Horse Chestnut Leaf Blotch Disease Caused by Guignardia aesculi

by Michal Kopačka, Gösta Nachman and Rostislav Zemek

Forests 2021, 12(7), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12070952 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2366

Abstract

The horse chestnut leaf miner Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) is an invasive pest of horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum (Sapindales: Sapindaceae) and has spread through Europe since 1985. Horse chestnut leaf blotch is a fungal disease caused by Guignardia aesculi (Botryosphaeriales: Botryosphaeriaceae) that also seriously damages horse chestnut trees in Europe. The interaction between the leaf miner and the fungus has not yet been sufficiently described. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess leaf damage inflicted to horse chestnut by both C. ohridella and G. aesculi during the vegetation season and to model their interaction. The damage to leaf area was measured monthly from May to September 2013 in České Budějovice, the Czech Republic using digital image analysis of sampled leaves. A simple phenomenological model describing the expected dynamics of the two species was developed. The study revealed that the damage caused by both the pests and the fungus varied significantly among sampling sites within the city. The overall leaf damage exceeded 50% in no-raking sites in August. The mathematical model indicates that infestation by C. ohridella is more affected by G. aesculi than vice versa. Guignardia aesculi is thus the superior competitor of the two species. Our findings highlight the delicate interplay between insect pests and fungal pathogens and the spatiotemporal dynamics influencing them, calling for more research in this understudied area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Botryosphaeria Dothidea and Neofusicoccum Yunnanense Causing Canker and Die-Back of Sequoiadendron Giganteum in Croatia

by Marta Kovač, Danko Diminić, Saša Orlović and Milica Zlatković

Forests 2021, 12(6), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12060695 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3633

Abstract

Sequoiadendron giganteum Lindl. [Buchholz] is a long-lived tree species endemic to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Due to its massive size and beauty, S. giganteum is a popular ornamental tree planted in many parts of the world, including Europe. Since 2017, scattered branch die-back has been observed on S. giganteum trees in Zagreb, Croatia. Other symptoms included resinous branch cankers, reddish-brown discoloration of the sapwood and, in severe cases, crown die-back. Branches showing symptoms of die-back and cankers were collected from six S. giganteum trees in Zagreb and the aim of this study was to identify the causal agent of the disease. The constantly isolated fungi were identified using morphology and phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and partial sequencing of two housekeeping genes, i.e., translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF 1-α), and β tubulin 2 (TUB2). The fungi were identified as Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug.) Ces. and De Not. and Neofusicoccum yunnanense G.Q. Li & S.F. Chen. The pathogenicity test was conducted in a plant growth chamber on S. giganteum seedlings and revealed that N. yunnanense was more aggressive compared to B. dothidea. N. yunnanense was able to reproduce symptoms of canker and die-back and kill plants seven weeks after inoculation whereas B. dothidea produced cankers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. dothidea and N. yunnanense causing canker and die-back disease of S. giganteum in Croatia. It is also the first record on the identity and pathogenicity of any fungal species associated with S. giganteum in this country. The study expended the known host range of N. yunnanense to include S. giganteum, which is a valuable ornamental tree in Croatian landscapes. Disease management strategies should be developed to mitigate or reduce the impact of the disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neofusicoccum parvum, A New Agent of Sequoia Canker and Dieback Identified in Geneva, Switzerland

by Martine Haenzi, Bastien Cochard, Romain Chablais, Julien Crovadore and François Lefort

Forests 2021, 12(4), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12040434 - 04 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4199

Abstract

Fungi were isolated in pure cultures from decaying giant sequoias in Geneva (Switzerland). Isolates were genetically identified by ITS rDNA sequencing. Young giant sequoia trees were artificially infected with a pure culture of Botryosphaeria parva. Henle-Koch’s Postulates demonstrated that Botryosphaeria parva was pathogenic to Sequoiadendron giganteum. When analysing the microorganisms associated to canker and dieback symptoms in a giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in Geneva, the fungus Neofusicoccum parvum (Pennycook & Samuels) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips, teleomorph Botryosphaeria parva (Pennycook & Samuels) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips, was isolated, whereas such symptoms are commonly associated to Fusicoccum aesculi (teleomorph Botryosphaeria dothidea). These two fungal species belong to the same genus Botryosphaeria of the Botryosphaeriaceae family. Because Neofusicoccum parvum was causing cankers and diebacks in other woody species around the world, we extended the analysis to other trees displaying sequoia dieback symptoms in order to evaluate the involvement of Neofusicoccum parvum in such increasing symptoms in sequoias in Geneva. Dried twigs, trunk, and branch cankers from diseased trees were sampled on several distinct sites. From all samples, isolated fungi in pure cultures showed a phenotype typical of Botryosphaeriaceae species. Isolates were then genetically identified at the species level. Subsequently Neofusicoccum parvum was inoculated to young giant sequoia trees, re-isolated in pure culture from provoked symptoms, and re-identified to fulfil Henle-Koch’s postulates. The identification confirmed that Neofusicoccum parvum was present on all sites, while Fusicoccum aesculi was retrieved only once alone. The inoculation of Neofusicoccum parvum isolates on young sequoias demonstrated for the first time that this fungus was able to develop cankers in Sequoiadendron giganteum. Neofusicoccum parvum could, therefore, be the major cause for dying of giant sequoias in the Geneva Lake area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 10242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ash Trees (Fraxinus spp.) in Urban Greenery as Possible Invasion Gates of Non-Native Phyllactinia Species

by Katarína Pastirčáková, Katarína Adamčíková, Kamila Bacigálová, Miroslav Caboň, Petra Mikušová, Dušan Senko, Marek Svitok and Slavomír Adamčík

Forests 2021, 12(2), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12020183 - 06 Feb 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1912

Abstract

Two Phyllactinia species have been associated with powdery mildew on leaves of ash trees (Fraxinus) in Eurasia, Phyllactinia fraxinicola U. Braun & H.D. Shin from Southeast Asia and Phyllactinia fraxini (DC.) Fuss from Europe. Non-native ash trees are planted in urban greeneries in both Europe and Southeast Asia, but so far, the two Phyllactinia species have not been reported from the same area. Our molecular analysis of European material consisting of 55 Phyllactinia specimens from 15 countries confirmed the absence of P. fraxinicola in Europe. In Europe, we confirmed P. fraxini on all three European native ash species and on the introduced Asian ash species, Fraxinus. chinensis ssp. Rhynchophylla (Hance) A.E. Murray and Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr, planted in arboreta. Among the 11 collections examined from Southeast Asia, 3 were identified as P. fraxini and 8 as P. fraxinicola. The environmental niches of the two Phyllactinia species do not show significant overlap in the multidimensional space defined by bioclimatic variables. This suggests that the Asian species P. fraxinicola is not adapted to conditions prevailing in most of Europe and does not represent an invasive threat across the continent. Models of the potential distribution of Phyllactinia species do not overlap in Europe, but there are some areas to the northwest that could be susceptible to invasion by P. fraxinicola. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1473 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fungi Associated with Horse-Chestnut Leaf Miner Moth Cameraria ohridella Mortality

by Irena Nedveckytė, Dalė Pečiulytė and Vincas Būda

Forests 2021, 12(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12010058 - 05 Jan 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3112

Abstract

The total mortality of the leaf-miner horse-chestnut pest, Cameraria ohridella, collected in nature, and the mortality associated with mycoses were assessed under laboratory conditions in stages: for eggs mortality rates of 9.78% and 61.97% were found, respectively; for caterpillars, 45.25% and 5.59%, respectively; and for pupae 21.22% and 100%, respectively. At the egg stage, Cladosporus cladosporioides caused mycosis most often (27% of all mycoses); at the caterpillar stage there was no pronounced predominant fungus species; at the pupal stage both Cordyceps fumosorosea and Beauveria bassiana (32% and 31%, respectively) were most dominant; whereas at the adult stage Lecanicillum aphanocladii (43%) were most dominant. C. ohridella moths remained the most vulnerable during the pupal and caterpillar stages. Maximum diversity of fungi associated with the leaf-miner moth was reached during the period of development inside the chestnut leaf (Shannon–Wiener index—H′ = 2.608 at the caterpillar stage, H′ = 2.619 at the pupal stage), while the minimum was reached in the adult stage (H′ = 1.757). In the caterpillar and pupa stages, saprophytic fungi were most often recorded. Comparative laboratory tests revealed novel properties of the fungus L. aphanocladii, its effectiveness as the leaf-miner moth‘s entomopathogen and its suitability for field application trials while developing environment-friendly methods for horse-chestnut pest control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity, Abundance, and Distribution of Wood-Decay Fungi in Major Parks of Hong Kong

by Shunping Ding, Hongli Hu and Ji-Dong Gu

Forests 2020, 11(10), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11101030 - 24 Sep 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3841

Abstract

Wood-decay fungi are one of the major threats to the old and valuable trees in Hong Kong and constitute a main conservation and management challenge because they inhabit dead wood as well as living trees. The diversity, abundance, and distribution of wood-decay fungi associated with standing trees and stumps in four different parks of Hong Kong, including Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Garden, Kowloon Park, and Hong Kong Observatory Grounds, were investigated. Around 4430 trees were examined, and 52 fungal samples were obtained from 44 trees. Twenty-eight species were identified from the samples and grouped into twelve families and eight orders. Phellinus noxius, Ganoderma gibbosum, and Auricularia polytricha were the most abundant species and occurred in three of the four parks. Most of the species were detected on old trees, indicating that older trees were more susceptible to wood-decay fungi than younger ones. More wood-decay fungal species were observed on Ficus microcarpa trees than on other tree species. These findings expanded the knowledge of wood-decay fungi in urban environments in Hong Kong and provided useful information for the conservation of old trees and the protection of human life and property from the danger of falling trees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 3960 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Invasive Box Tree Moth Five Years after Introduction in Slovakia: Damage Risk to Box Trees in Urban Habitats

by Ján Kulfan, Peter Zach, Juraj Holec, Peter M.J. Brown, Lenka Sarvašová, Jiří Skuhrovec, Zdenka Martinková, Alois Honěk, Jozef Váľka, Milada Holecová and Miroslav Saniga

Forests 2020, 11(9), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11090999 - 17 Sep 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3158

Abstract

The box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an invasive species in Europe and a serious pest of box trees (Buxus spp.). In Slovakia, Central Europe, it was first reported in 2012 within the low elevation region with a warm climate. We hypothesize that the cold mountain region of Slovakia would provide less suitable conditions for the spread of this species, indicated by no or only slight damage to box trees. Five years after C. perspectalis was first recorded in Slovakia, we assessed the probability of occurrence of the moth and the probability of damage to box trees (Buxus sempervirens) by its larvae, using temperature and altitude data as predictors. In June and July 2017, at 156 locations (towns and villages) between the altitudes of 109 and 888 m, we recorded damage and categorized the intensity of damage to box trees by C. perspectalis using a four-point scale. Box trees infested by C. perspectalis were recorded in most locations at altitudes between 110 and 400 m with the mean annual temperature varying between 10.5 and 7.9 °C. High damage to box trees was found in locations up to 340 m a.s.l. characterized by mean annual temperatures above 8.5 °C. Our results suggested high probability (>60%) of any damage to box trees for the area up to approximately 300 m a.s.l. (mean annual temperature above 8.4 °C), and high probability (>60%) of high damage for the area up to approximately 250 m a.s.l. (mean annual temperature above 9 °C). The area where damage to box trees was predicted using the altitude showed great overlap with the area predicted using the mean annual temperature. The area with the probability of any damage was only slightly larger than the area with the probability of high damage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3711 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Powdery Mildews on Trees and Shrubs in Botanical Gardens, Parks and Urban Green Areas in the Czech Republic

by Barbora Mieslerová, Michaela Sedlářová, Markéta Michutová, Veronika Petřeková, Roger Cook and Aleš Lebeda

Forests 2020, 11(9), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11090967 - 04 Sep 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3172

Abstract

A total of 103 tree and shrub samples infected with powdery mildew were collected during 2002–2019 from locations within parks, botanical gardens and urban green areas within the Czech Republic and the powdery mildews were morphologically analyzed and identified. The most frequently represented genera were: Erysiphe (27, including former genera Microsphaera and Uncinula), Podosphaera (11, including former genus Sphaerotheca), Phyllactinia (3), Sawadaea (2) and Arthrocladiella (1). New records for the Czech Republic were: E. (U.) arcuata, E. (M.) deutziae, E. (M.) euonymicola, E. (U.) flexuosa, E. (M.) platani, E. (M.) symphoricarpi, E. (M.) vanbruntiana var. sambuci-racemosae, E. (U.) ulmi, Po. amelanchieris, Po. (Sph.) pruinosa and Po. (Sph.) spiraeae. The results were compared with the spectrum of powdery mildew species in the surrounding countries (Slovakia; Hungary; Poland and Germany (Bavaria)). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 3771 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cinara splendens (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae)—First Record in Palaearctic Region

by Jan Havelka, Jekaterina Havelka and Petr Starý

Forests 2020, 11(9), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11090911 - 20 Aug 2020

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2466

Abstract

Nearctic aphid Cinara splendens (Gillette and Palmer, 1924) was collected on ornamental Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in South Bohemia in 2009. It was the first record of this species in the Palaearctic region. The aim of this research was to study the bionomy of this species in Central Europe and to make descriptions of all available morphs, as previous morphological descriptions of C. splendens appeared to be incomplete. Six monitoring sites of this species were established in South Bohemia and were then regularly attended in the period of 2009–2019. The colonies of C. splendens were observed; its natural enemies and honeydew users were also registered. Aphids were collected for the microscope slide preparation, followed by the evaluation of thirty of the basic quantitative and seven qualitative morphological characteristics. Partial sequences of mitochondrial COI and nuclear EF-1α were used to confirm morphology-based identification and to compare samples from the Czech Republic with those of North American origin. Cinarasplendens survived successfully under new ecological conditions, but its population density remained quite low, except for 2009 and 2019, due to a synergistic effect of the dry weather and very high population density of the adelgid Gilletteella coweni (Gillette, 1907), which is a key pest of Douglas fir in the Czech Republic. The principle predators were coccinellid beetles, while the aphidophagous hover flies were less abundant. Together with a weak ability to migrate due to a low number of alate viviparous females in population, C. splendens cannot be a potential pest of P. menziesii in Central Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3746 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Host Range of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus in Slovak Arboreta

by Katarína Pastirčáková, Katarína Adamčíková, Marek Barta, Jozef Pažitný, Peter Hoťka, Ivana Sarvašová and Miriam Kádasi Horáková

Forests 2020, 11(5), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/f11050596 - 25 May 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2681

Abstract

The health of 34 different Fraxinus taxa in association with the pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was assessed in four Slovak arboreta. Averaged across all arboreta, nearly one-quarter (24.9%) of all evaluated trees showed ash dieback symptoms. The damage was most serious on the common ash F. excelsior, a native species. The percentage of dead trees did not exceed 2% for all evaluated trees. Generally, ash trees of all ages were affected, though the intensity of the damage varied among the sites. The identity of H. fraxineus was confirmed by conventional PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA, as well as the 18S gene/ITS-2 region of the rDNA operon. In Slovakia, the pathogen has expanded its host range from native species not only to their ornamental cultivars, but also to introduced North American (F. cinerea, F. latifolia, F. pennsylvanica, F. quadrangulata) and Asian (F. bungeana, F. chinensis ssp. rhynchophylla, F. mandshurica) ash species. H. fraxineus was also observed on the previous year’s leaf petioles of the native European species F. ornus, considered a weakly susceptible host. In Slovak arboreta, H. fraxineus was found on 23 Fraxinus taxa; 21 of them represent first records for the country. F. bungeana is recorded as a new host species of H. fraxineus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

13 pages, 1633 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Erythrina Gall Wasp Quadrastichus erythrinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): Invasion History, Ecology, Infestation and Management

by Sheng-Feng Lin, Gene-Sheng Tung and Man-Miao Yang

Forests 2021, 12(7), 948; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12070948 - 18 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3131

Abstract

The Erythrina gall wasp Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an invasive insect that induces galls on coral trees (species of Erythrina, Fabaceae) in urban and suburban landscapes. Weakening and death of the tree were both observed after the infestation by this insect, wherein feeding and consequent draining of nutrients by a large population of Q. erythrinae could be playing a key role. In this article, we consolidate and summarize the information on the distribution, invasion route, ecology, infestation level, and management of Q. erythrinae populations in the last two decades and analyze the challenges in their management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Pests and Pathogens of Urban Trees

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (12 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI