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Like other moths of the ] order, its wings are covered by minute, dust like scales that are slightly sticky to the touch. The scales are shed by the moth on contact, and accumulate as a sticky dust like coating on the leaves and leaf stems on which it resides. Like other moths of the ] order, its wings are covered by minute, dust like scales that are slightly sticky to the touch. The scales are shed by the moth on contact, and accumulate as a sticky dust like coating on the leaves and leaf stems on which it resides.


This coating acts as a natural barrier that protects the moth from attack by common predators such as spiders, whose webs are rendered ineffectual by sticky dust like scales. As the coating accumulates during periods of dry weather, this coating may also make the moth unpaletable to other predators, such as birds, enabling the population of Horse-chestnut leaf miner an to grow unchecked. <ref>As observed in South West London, June 2006 ] </ref> This coating acts as a natural barrier that protects the moth from attack by common predators such as spiders, whose webs are rendered ineffectual by sticky dust like scales. As the coating accumulates during periods of dry weather, this coating may also make the moth unpaletable to other predators, such as birds, enabling the population of Horse-chestnut leaf miner an to grow unchecked. <ref>As observed in South West London, June 2006 by ] </ref>


''Cameraria ohridella'' has now been found in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], ], and ]. ''Cameraria ohridella'' has now been found in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], ], ], ], and ].

Revision as of 10:41, 12 April 2007

Cameraria ohridella
Horse-chestnut leaf miner
Conservation status
Template:StatusSecure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Gracillarioidea
Family: Gracillariidae
Genus: Cameraria
Species: C. ohridella
Binomial name
Cameraria ohridella
Deschka & Dimic, 1985

The horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella) is a moth of the lepidopteran family Gracillariidae. It probably originated in Asia, and first appeared in Europe in 1985. The moth grows up to 5 mm long and has shiny, bright brown forewings with thin black and white stripes. Its larvae are leaf miners on the Common Horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), causing significant damage to the trees.

Leaf miner damage in Germany

The larva digs its way into the leaves of the tree, damaging the leaves and stunting growth. Infected leaves are covered in small brown patches which spread rapidly across the entire tree, giving an autumnal appearance (these patches are similar to damage caused by the fungus Guignardia aesculi, but can be distinguished by their more regular size and shape). Eventually the leaves die and drop off; when new ones grow they are again infected. This cycle can repeat itself several times in one season.

Like other moths of the Lepidoptera order, its wings are covered by minute, dust like scales that are slightly sticky to the touch. The scales are shed by the moth on contact, and accumulate as a sticky dust like coating on the leaves and leaf stems on which it resides.

This coating acts as a natural barrier that protects the moth from attack by common predators such as spiders, whose webs are rendered ineffectual by sticky dust like scales. As the coating accumulates during periods of dry weather, this coating may also make the moth unpaletable to other predators, such as birds, enabling the population of Horse-chestnut leaf miner an to grow unchecked.

Cameraria ohridella has now been found in Ukraine, England, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

The moth is able to live at temperatures as low as -23 °C, although it thrives in warmer climates, where it can achieve as many as six generations a year. Its natural enemies are parasitic wasps, but there are few of the required species in Europe, meaning there is next to no natural control.

Since 2001 an EU-wide multidisciplinary project, CONTROCAM ("Control of Cameraria"), has been trying to predict how much of an impact Cameraria ohridella will have, and to find methods of pest control.

The HAM-CAM Project was initiated in the city of Hamburg in 2001, to investigate the horse-chestnut leaf-miner. A DVD film was made about the biology and host plant and parasite relationship. For detailed information please see Abstract of HAM-CAM-Projekt, 2003

Spread of Cameraria ohridella across Europe

References

  1. As observed in South West London, June 2006 by Gavin Collins

External links

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