RT Journal Article
T1 European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar L.) completes development and defoliates exotic radiata pine plantations in Spain
A1 Castedo Dorado, Fernando
A1 Lago Parra, Gorka
A1 Lombardero Díaz, María Josefa
A1 Liebhold, Andrew
A1 Álvarez Taboada, María Flor
K1 Pinus radiata
K1 Lymantria dispar dispar
K1 Outbreak
K1 Tree defoliation
K1 Tree mortality
K1 NW of Spain
AB BackgroundLike most pines, radiata pine (Pinus radiata D.Don) is conventionally considered resistant to defoliation by European gypsy moth, i.e. it is only consumed by late larval stages, or when susceptible species are not available or are scarce. The ability of this moth to complete development on this host in field conditions has never been reported.FindingsA gypsy moth outbreak in a pure radiata pine plantation was observed in north-western Spain, where this insect is endemic. During the 2 years of outbreak culmination (2012 and 2013), approximately 46 ha of radiata pine were severely defoliated (>75 % of leaf area removed) and no defoliation was evident in nearby stands of susceptible species. Large numbers of egg masses were present on stems of pine trees. Larvae were observed feeding exclusively on radiata pine needles beginning with the first instar and continuing to pupation. Nearly 100 % tree mortality occurred in stands severely defoliated.ConclusionsThe occurrence of a European gypsy moth outbreak in a pure radiata pine plantation contradicts previous observations that larvae of this species cannot complete development in stands comprised entirely of pines. These results suggest that European strains of the gypsy moth hold great potential for damage to commercial radiata pine plantations where this species is utilised in plantation forestry, such as in New Zealand or Australia
PB Springer
YR 2016
FD 2016-09-13
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/16253
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/16253
LA eng
NO Castedo-Dorado, F., Lago-Parra, G., Lombardero, M., Liebhold, A., & Álvarez-Taboada, M. (2016). European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar L.) completes development and defoliates exotic radiata pine plantations in Spain. New Zealand Journal Of Forestry Science, 46(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40490-016-0074-y
NO Funding for this research was provided by the Local Goberment of Cubillos del Sil by the contract “Seguimiento y bases para la gestión de las masas forestales afectadas por defoliación de Lymantria dispar en el municipio de Cubillos del Sil”
DS Minerva
RD 28 abr 2026