Aproceros leucopoda (Hymenoptera: Argidae): An East Asian pest of elms (Ulmus spp.) invading Europe

An invasive sawfly Aproceros leucopoda Takeuchi, 1939, which originates from East Asia, has colonized elms (Ulmus spp.) in Austria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Ukraine, at least since 2003. In Europe, the larvae can completely defoliate native and non-native elm trees and may cause at...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	European journal of entomology Vol. 107; no. 3; pp. 357 - 367
Main Authors:	Stephan M. BLANK, Hideho HARA, József MIKULÁS, György CSÓKA, Constantin CIORNEI, Raoul CONSTANTINEANU, Irinel CONSTANTINEANU, Ladislav ROLLER, Ewald ALTENHOFER, Tomasz HUFLEJT, Gábor VÉTEK
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 01-01-2010
Subjects:	aproceros leucopoda argidae bionomy dispersal dutch elm disease europe identification invasive species pest species sawfly ulmus
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Description
Summary:	An invasive sawfly Aproceros leucopoda Takeuchi, 1939, which originates from East Asia, has colonized elms (Ulmus spp.) in Austria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Ukraine, at least since 2003. In Europe, the larvae can completely defoliate native and non-native elm trees and may cause at least partial dieback. Field observations indicate that elms are infested independent of their age and site characteristics. The life cycle of A. leucopoda is described based on material reared in Hokkaido, Japan. Parthenogenetic reproduction, short life cycle of summer generations and the ability to produce four generations per year result in the production of numerous progeny. The evolution of a seasonal dimorphism in head morphology, a simple cocoon that is attached directly to the host plant and a short period spent in the cocoon stage during summer, are putative apomorphies shared by Aproceros Takeuchi, 1939 and Aprosthema Konow, 1899. These traits reduce developmental costs and contribute to the proliferation of A. leucopoda. No specialized parasitoid, that can effectively reduce outbreaks of this species, is known. It is likely that this pest will spread into central and south-western Europe. Further monitoring of A. leucopoda is required to assess future range extensions in Europe, its exacerbating effect on Dutch elm disease and to find a suitable biocontrol agent. Concise keys to imaginal and larval stages are presented that will facilitate the identification of A. leucopoda.
ISSN:	1210-5759 1802-8829
DOI:	10.14411/eje.2010.045