Lepidoptera on the introduced Robinia pseudoacacia in Slovakia, Central Europe

Abstract

A current checklist of Lepidoptera that utilize Robinia pseudoacacia as a hostplant in Slovakia (Central Europe) is provided. The inventory is based on a bibliographic review and new unreported data from southwest Slovakia. The list includes 35 Lepidoptera species belonging to 10 families. Most species are polyphagous and belong to Euro-Siberian faunal community. Two monophagous species, the leaf miners Macrosaccus robiniella and Parectopa robiniella, and the polyphagous pest Hyphantria cunea have subsequently been introduced to Slovakia.

Impact of an invasive tree on arthropod assemblages in woodlots isolated within an intensive agricultural landscape

“…This effect could be enhanced by heat and water stress in the understorey caused by R. pseudoacacia (Xu et al, ). Arthropods linked to such insolated understorey vegetation in the Robinia woodlots could partly compensate for loss of forest canopy herbivores due to plant invasion (Kulfan, ; Litt et al, ; Liu & Stiling, ) by filling new available niches (e.g. insolated herbs, rotten wood; Highland et al, ; Tews et al, ).…”

“…Nevertheless, the above‐mentioned direct negative relationship between the presence of R. pseudoacacia and herbivorous Lepidoptera and Curculionoidea was stronger than the effect of changes in vegetation structure. This was probably caused by a higher contribution of herbivorous canopy specialists within the moth assemblages (Kadlec et al, ) and high abundances of Curculionoidea exploiting broadleaved trees in the native woodlots (Koch, ), but not able to feed on exotic Robinia (Kulfan, ; Litt et al, ; Liu & Stiling, ). By contrast, higher abundance of Elateridae and abundance and species richness of Heteroptera is probably linked to the habitat structure as many open‐habitat specialists were present mainly in the Robinia woodlots.…”

Prothoracicotropic hormone-producing neurosecretory neurons and antioxidative defense in midgut of Lymantria dispar in trophic stress

“…Today, it has spread throughout western, central, eastern, and southern Europe and has become a major invasive species with a significant impact on native plant communities. Despite the large number of polyphagous species of Lepidoptera and the long period after the introduction of R. pseudoacacia to Europe, so far only a few native lepidopteran species have adapted to it (Kulfan, 2012). The unfavorable effects of locust leaves on gypsy moth larvae can be attributed to the presence of phenolic defensive compounds (Barbosa Abstract: As a very invasive insect species, Lymantria dispar is adaptable and sensitive to a changing environment.…”

Robinijeva grizlica, Nematus tibialis, nova tujerodna vrsta v Sloveniji

“…Na navadni robiniji je bilo opisanih več vrst škod-ljivcev in bolezni, vendar o večjem vplivu posameznih škodljivih dejavnikov na drevo ni poročil (Kulfan, 2012). V zadnjih desetletjih se pojavlja vedno več novih bolezni in škodljivcev lesnatih in drugih rastlin, ki na območja, kjer prej niso bili prisotni, prihajajo s pomočjo človeka.…”

“…Vrsta se uspešno samostojno razmnožuje, se močno in hitro razrašča ter zlahka zasede nova območja. Pri tem siromaši tla nekaterih mineralov in izpodriva domorodne vrste dreves in grmov, vendar pa po drugi strani tla bogati z dušikom.Na navadni robiniji je bilo opisanih več vrst škod-ljivcev in bolezni, vendar o večjem vplivu posameznih škodljivih dejavnikov na drevo ni poročil (Kulfan, 2012). V zadnjih desetletjih se pojavlja vedno več novih bolezni in škodljivcev lesnatih in drugih rastlin, ki na območja, kjer prej niso bili prisotni, prihajajo s pomočjo človeka.…”