Species of Insects Harmful to Leaves, Buds, and Flowers in the Apple Orchards of Southern Romania

Abstract

The aim of the study was to update knowledge of the complex of harmful species that damage apple tree buds, flowers and leaves in orchards in the southern part of Romania. The pest fauna identified by visual observation and collection of infested plant material in the 2021 study, performed in 3 orchards, was represented by a total of 4 species of beetles: Phyllobius pomaceus, P. oblongus, Anthonomus pomorum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tropinota (Epicometis) hirta (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae) and 12 species of moths: Phyllonorycter blancardella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), Stigmella malella (Lepidoptera:Nepticulidae), Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera:Erebidae), Leucoptera malifoliella, Lyonetia clerkella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), Adoxophyes orana, Archips podanus, A. rosanus, Clepsis consimilana, Pandemis heparana, P. cerasana and Hedia nubiferana (Lepidoptera:Tortricidae). The report reveals the variations among orchards, in terms of species composition, relative abundance of common species and their importance for the region.