Artículos

New record of Caloptilia cuculipennella (Hübner, 1796) in Belarus (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Nuevo registro de Caloptilia cuculipennella (Hübner, 1796) en Bielorrusia (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Introduction

Extensive genus Caloptilia Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) has over 300 species of the world fauna and is represented in Europe by approximately 25 species (DE PRINS & DE PRINS, 2006-2019). At present, six species of Gracillariidae of the genus Caloptilia are known for the territory of Belarus: Caloptilia populetorum (Zeller, 1839) (ARIKO & SAUTKIN, 2017), Caloptilia rufipennella (Hübner, 1796) (EVDOSHENKO, 2016; PROKOPOVICH, 2008), Caloptilia alchimiella (Scopoli, 1763) (KUZNETSOV & BARYSHNIKOVA, 1998; MERZHEEVSKAYA et al., 1976; SETRAKOVA, 2014), Caloptilia stigmatella (Fabricius, 1781) (PRÜFFER, 1947), Caloptilia hemidactylella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (ARIKO, & SAUTKIN, 2017; EVDOSHENKO, 2016; PISANENKO et al., 2019), and recently recorded Caloptilia roscipennella (Hübner, 1796) (SINCHUK et al., 2020). The inspection of various tree species for searching new mining Lepidoptera in Belarus has revealed another species of this genus, Caloptilia cuculipennella (Hübner, 1796), trophically related to common ash.

Fraxinus excelsior L. (Oleaceae) is an important forest-forming species in Belarus. Ash forests are valuable not only as a source of exceptionally high-quality wood and by-products, but also as a powerful regulator of biosphere processes, an accumulator of huge reserves of deposited carbon, an object of environmental biodiversity, an invaluable recreational resource (ZVYAGINTSEV & SAZONOV, 2005).

The natural range of the common ash tree covers almost all of Europe with the exception of the northernmost and southernmost parts, from the Atlantic coast in the West to the Volga river in the East. The northernmost point of its natural range is in Norway, approximately 64º North latitude. The southern border reaches 37º North latitude in Iran (CHUMAKOVA & VASIL’EV, 1984). The largest areas of ash forests within the Russian plain are concentrated in Ukraine, Belarus, and the southern Baltic States. Belarus is located in the Central part of the ash tree range and the climate conditions throughout its territory are quite favorable for the growth of this breed.

In the “Catalog of Lepidoptera of the Russian Empire” for the North-Western provinces (Estonia, Livonia, Courland, Pskov, Mogilev provinces. Vitebsk, Vilna, Kovno, Grodno and Minsk provinces and Poland are almost not processed, Pskov province is very poorly studied and only in places) the species Coriscium cuculipennellum Hb. (= Caloptilia cuculipennella (Hübner, 1796)) (ERSHOV & FIELD, 1870) is specified. However, there is no specific indication that the moth is located within the modern borders of Belarus (figure 1). At the moment, the spread is recorded in neighboring countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, and Russia (DE PRINS & DE PRINS, 2006-2019).

In addition to C. cuculipennella, Gracillaria syringella (Fabricius, 1794) was previously recorded as a phyllophage of Fraxinus excelsior L. on the territory of Belarus (SAUTKIN & EVDOSHENKO, 2013).

Material and methods

Inspections were conducted in green spaces in all regional centers and some other localities of Belarus in 2020. The leaf blades found to be damaged by insects were collected in sealed plastic bags with a Zip-Lock of various sizes. The material, damaged by phyllophage, was herbarized (SKVORTSOV, 1977). Identification of pests by damaged leaf blades was carried out using specialized keys (ELLIS, 2001-2020; PITKIN et al., 2019).

This article is based on the material of damaged leaves of common ash (figure 2) from Gomel, N52.429889, E31.025869 (accuracy: 29 meters), collected on 19-IX-2020 (leg. A. V. Sinchuk, N. V. Sinchuk). The herbarium is kept in the personal collection of A. V. Sinchuk.

Results

Identification by damages on leaves (figure 2: A, B) allowed us to establish a new species of phytophagy, Caloptilia cuculipennella, for Belarus, whose caterpillars feed on common ash. When a large number of damages are formed on one leaf, its deformation becomes noticeable (figure 2: C). After leaving the mines, the caterpillars feed under the curved edge of the leaf, which leads to its skeletonization. In the later stages, pupation occurs in the formed rollers (figure 2: D).

At present, this phyllophage is recorded in all neighboring countries: Lithuania (IVINSKIS, 2004), Latvia (KARSHOLT & NIEUKERKEN, 2013), Poland (KARSHOLT & RAZOWSKI 1996), Ukraine (KUZNETSOV & BARYSHNIKOVA, 1998), and Russia (BARYSHNIKOVA, 2019). Among host plants, in addition in the world are known: Fraxinus americana L., F. angustifolia oxycarpa (M. Bieb. Ex Willd.) Franco & Rocha Alonso, F. anomala Torr. Ex S. Wats., F. chinensis rhynchophylla Hance, F. excelsior L., F. latifolia Bebth., F. nigra Marshall, F. ornus L., F. pennsylvanica Marshall, F. quadrangulata Michx., F. sogdiana Bunge; Jasminum sp.; Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk., L. vulgare L.; Phillyrea sp.; Syringa vulgaris L. (ELLIS, 2001, 2020; DE PRINS & DE PRINS, 2016).

The following species of ash trees are found in Belarus: F. pennsylvanica, F. mandshurica Rupr. (FEDORUK, 1972), F. excelsior, Fraxinus angustifolia oxycarpa (FEDORUK, 1985). Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Fraxinus excelsior have the largest area of growth (figure 3). There are 31 populations of F. pennsylvanica were counted on an area of 10.7 ha in the administrative regions of the country (figure 3: A). For F. excelsior, 65914 populations were recorded in an area of 34871.8 ha. The largest areas of growth of the species are concentrated in Vitebsk (8455.4 ha) and Gomel (8416.4 ha) regions, the smallest - in Grodno region (2345.8 ha) (figure 3: B) (MASLOVSKY et al., 2019).

Also, among the potential host plants for Belarus, we can specify Ligustrum vulgare and Syringa vulgaris (FEDORUK, 1972). At the same time, 146 populations on an area of 34.1 ha in 25 administrative regions of Belarus have been taken into account for common lilac. By the occupied area, most common lilacs grow in the Brest region. However, due to the widespread use of lilac as a gardening plant, targeted studies are needed to better assess the distribution of S. vulgaris in Belarus (MASLOVSKY et al., 2019). The area and density of privet growth are not specified at the moment.

Based on the above, it can be assumed that the species C. cuculipennella can be distributed throughout the territory of Belarus and can be found not only on ash, but also on other representatives of the Oleaceae family growing there.

Conclusions: A new phyllophagous species Caloptilia cuculipennella (Hübner, 1796), which was identified by damages on leaves of common ash, is first recorded Belarus.

It is quite probable that the range of this species covers the entire territory of Belarus. Its host plants may include F. excelsior, Fraxinus angustifolia oxycarpa and F. pennsylvanica,Syringa vulgaris and Ligustrum vulgare grown in Belarus. The common ash, Fraxinus excelsior, is presumably the principal host plant.

Acknowledgments

The work of S. V. Baryshnikova was performed within the framework of the state theme AAAAA19-119020690101-6.

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Notas de autor

*Autor para correspondencia / Corresponding author aleh.sinchuk@gmail.com