Gypsonoma aceriana (poplar twig borer)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- Habitat
- Hosts/Species Affected
- Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
- Growth Stages
- Symptoms
- List of Symptoms/Signs
- Biology and Ecology
- Natural enemies
- Notes on Natural Enemies
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Plant Trade
- Wood Packaging
- Impact
- Environmental Impact
- Diagnosis
- Detection and Inspection
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- Prevention and Control
- References
- Distribution Maps
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Top of pageIdentity
Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Gypsonoma aceriana (Duponchel, 1843)
Preferred Common Name
- poplar twig borer
Other Scientific Names
- Epinotia aceriana Duponchel
- Penthina aceriana Duponchel
- Semasia aceriana Duponchel
International Common Names
- Spanish: oruga minadora de los shopos
- French: la semasie; tordeuse du peuplier
- Russian: pobegovaja topolevaja listovjortka
Local Common Names
- Bulgaria: topolov papkojad
- Denmark: poppelbarkvikler; poppelskudvikler
- Germany: Pappelnwickler
- Italy: gemmaiola
- Netherlands: populierescheutboorder
- Norway: poppelbarkvikler
- Serbia: topolin savijac
- Sweden: poppelbarkvecklare
- USA: European poplar shoot borer
EPPO code
- GYPSAC (Gypsonoma aceriana)
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageTaxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Metazoa
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Uniramia
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Tortricidae
- Genus: Gypsonoma
- Species: Gypsonoma aceriana
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageDescription
Top of pageThe adults of G. aceriana are ash-grey, with a body length of 4-5 mm and a wingspan of 9-14 mm (Georgiev, 1992). The wings are folded over the body when at rest. The basal part of the forewings is darker than the apical remainder. The hind wings are uniformly light grey or light brown.
Eggs
The eggs are oval, slightly flattened and about 0.5-0.6 mm long (Georgiev, 1992). At the start of the embryonic stage they are colourless and become darker as the embryo develops.
Larvae
The larvae are pale with brownish or blackish heads and have a prothoracic plate. Neonate larvae are 1.2-1.5 mm long and mature larvae are 7.9-11.1 mm long (Georgiev, 1992).
Pupae
The pupae are 5.7-6.7 mm long and 2-3 mm wide. They are light brown, smooth and shiny, and covered with white, loose cocoons.
Distribution
Top of pageDistribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 15 Dec 2020Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia |
|||||||
Iraq | Present | ||||||
Turkey | Present | ||||||
Europe |
|||||||
Albania | Present | Native | |||||
Austria | Present | Native | |||||
Belarus | Present | Native | |||||
Belgium | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
Bulgaria | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
Croatia | Present | Native | |||||
Czechia | Present | Native | |||||
Czechoslovakia | Present | Native | |||||
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | Present | Native | |||||
Denmark | Present | Native | |||||
France | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
Germany | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
Greece | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
Hungary | Present | Native | |||||
Ireland | Present | Native | |||||
Italy | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
Luxembourg | Present | Native | |||||
Netherlands | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
North Macedonia | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
Norway | Present | Native | |||||
Poland | Present | Native | |||||
Portugal | Present | Native | |||||
Russia | Present | Native | |||||
-Central Russia | Present | ||||||
-Southern Russia | Present | ||||||
-Western Siberia | Present | ||||||
Serbia | Present | Native | |||||
Slovakia | Present | Native | |||||
Spain | Present | Native | |||||
Sweden | Present | Native | |||||
Switzerland | Present | Native | |||||
Ukraine | Present | Native | |||||
United Kingdom | Present | Native | |||||
North America |
|||||||
Canada | Present | ||||||
-British Columbia | Present | ||||||
United States | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Washington | Present | Native |
Habitat
Top of pageHosts/Species Affected
Top of pageAccording to Danilevskii (1955), G. aceriana is also trophically connected to Acer campestre.
Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
Top of pagePlant name | Family | Context | References |
---|---|---|---|
Acer campestre (field maple) | Aceraceae | Other | |
Betula (birches) | Betulaceae | Other | |
Erica (heaths) | Ericaceae | Other | |
Populus (poplars) | Salicaceae | Unknown | |
Populus alba (silver-leaf poplar) | Salicaceae | Main | |
Populus balsamifera (balm of Gilead) | Salicaceae | Main | |
Populus deltoides (poplar) | Salicaceae | Main | |
Populus nigra (black poplar) | Salicaceae | Main | |
Populus x euramericana | Salicaceae | Main | Georgiev and Samuelian (1999) |
Vaccinium (blueberries) | Ericaceae | Other |
Symptoms
Top of pageList of Symptoms/Signs
Top of pageSign | Life Stages | Type |
---|---|---|
Growing point / distortion | ||
Growing point / dwarfing; stunting | ||
Growing point / frass visible | ||
Growing point / internal feeding; boring | ||
Leaves / frass visible | ||
Leaves / internal feeding | ||
Stems / stunting or rosetting | ||
Stems / witches broom |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageG. aceriana lays eggs on the lower leaf surface, along the mid-ribs or large veins. The eggs are placed individually in small groups, and there are two to three eggs per leaf. The embryonic stage lasts approximately 7-10 days (Kusevska, 1972; Georgiev, 1992). The newly hatched larvae eat into the parenchyma and leaf ribs or veins, covering themselves with frass and silk threads. After the first moult, the larvae change feeding places and penetrate into tender twig tips. They make tubular silk and frass shelters over the entrance holes. Frequently the damaged twigs form gall-like swellings at the points of infection. The larvae moult three more times in the twigs and larval development is completed in approximately 30 days (Kusevska, 1972). The mature larvae leave the twigs and pupate in litter on the ground or rarely in bark crevices, in white silk cocoons to which sand grains or bark particles are attached. Prepupal and pupal development last 2-3 and 7-14 days, respectively (Kusevska, 1972).
Adult emergence from overwintering generations usually occurs in May, and in August from the summer generation (Georgiev, 1992). The adults are active at night. During the day, they hide in bark crevices or stay immobile on leaves and branches, and are difficult to find. According to Kusevska (1972), the average female lifetime fecundity is 62-78 eggs.
G. aceriana overwinter as second- or third-instar larvae in well-camouflaged hibernacula, which are shelters (bark crevices, depressions in leaf scars, etc.) on stems and branches covered with silk and frass. The larvae of G. aceriana can migrate more than 1 m from their feeding site to find a suitable overwintering place (Heymans et al., 1984). In the early spring, the larvae leave their overwintering shelters and climb higher up the trees to bore into the young twigs.
Natural enemies
Top of pageNatural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adalia bipunctata | Predator | |||||
Apanteles erevanicus | Parasite | Arthropods|Larvae | ||||
Bracon variator | Parasite | Arthropods|Larvae | ||||
Dolichogenidea erivanica | Parasite | Arthropods|Larvae | ||||
Phytomyptera nigrina | Parasite | Arthropods|Larvae | ||||
Pristomerus rufiabdominalis | Parasite | Arthropods|Larvae | ||||
Pristomerus vulnerator | Parasite | Arthropods|Larvae |
Notes on Natural Enemies
Top of pageTrichogramma evanescens is reported as an egg parasitoid of G. aceriana (Kusevska, 1972, 1974-1975).
Thirteen species are known to be larval parasitoids of G. aceriana: Pristomerus vulnerator (Kusevska, 1972, 1974-1975; Georgiev, 1995; Georgiev and Samuelian, 1999; Georgiev, 2001); Parania geniculata [Atrometus geniculatus] (Kusevska, 1972, 1974-1975); Pristomerus rufiabdominalis (Georgiev, 1995; Georgiev and Samuelian, 1999; Georgiev, 2001); Trichomma enecator (Kusevska, 1972, 1974-1975); Itoplectis alternans (Kusevska, 1974-1975); Bracon variator (Arru and Lapietra, 1971; Georgiev, 1995; Georgiev and Samuelian, 1999); Apanteles erevanicus [Dolichogenidea erevanica] (Georgiev, 1995; Georgiev and Delkov, 1999; Georgiev and Samuelian, 1999); Apanteles vitripennis; Apanteles melanoscelus [Cotesia melanoscelus] (Kusevska, 1974-1975); Bassus tumidulus (Georgiev, 1995; Georgiev and Samuelian, 1999; Georgiev and Delkov, 2003); Orgilus nitidus (Kusevska, 1972, 1974-1975); Orgilus obscurator [Orgilus leptocephalus] (Georgiev, 1995; Georgiev and Samuelian, 1999); and Eupelmus annulatus (Kusevska, 1972, 1974-1975).
Parasitoids play an important role in limiting pest numbers. In Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic, host larvae parasitism can reach 16-29% (Kusevska, 1974-1975), and in Bulgaria, 23-62% (Georgiev, 1995; Georgiev and Samuelian, 1999; Georgiev and Delkov, 2003). The main biological characteristics of the most important parasitoids of G. aceriana are studied in Bulgaria.
B. variator is a solitary external parasitoid of G. aceriana. A. erevanicus, B. tumidulus, P. rufiabdominalis and P. vulnerator are solitary internal parasitoids (Georgiev, 1995, 2001; Georgiev and Delkov, 1999, 2003). They are bivoltine, attack the early-stage (first to second instar) host larvae and overwinter as larvae.
The life cycle of A. erevanicus is in relatively good synchrony with development of the poplar twig borer (Georgiev and Delkov, 1999). Adult emergence of the parasitoid usually occurs between late May and early June, and in August for the overwintering and summer generations, respectively. At this time, G. aceriana larvae are in the first- or second-instar stage. The activity of A. erevanicus coincides with the peak abundance of preferred host larval instars and parasitism sometimes reaches up to 46-56% (Georgiev and Delkov, 1999).
Adult emergence of both the overwintering and summer generations of B. tumidulus coincides with the adult emergence of the host (Georgiev and Delkov, 2003). The first generation emergence of the parasitoid is usually in relatively good synchrony with the first larval population of G. aceriana. However, the second parasitoid generation is not very well synchronized with the life cycle of the host. The average mortality of G. aceriana caused by this parasitoid in Bulgaria, reaches 16% and 23% in some years for the overwintering and the summer generations, respectively. The highest level of parasitism by B. tumidulus observed in an individual study was 62% (Georgiev and Delkov, 2003).
The flight period of the overwintering generations of P. vulnerator and P. rufiabdominalis is between late May and early June, and in August for the summer ones (Georgiev, 2001). P. rufiabdominalis usually appears 5-10 days before P. vulnerator. Adult emergence of the parasitoids coincides with adult emergence of G. aceriana but the life cycles of the parasitoids do not synchronize well with the host development. P. vulnerator and P. rufiabdominalis kill 6-10% and 3-16% of G. aceriana larvae, respectively.
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageThe adults of G. aceriana can fly but nothing is known about the flight distances by the females from infested poplar stands to newly planted poplars.
Silvicultural Practices
Long-distance spread of G. aceriana is most likely to occur through silvicultural practices or commercial movement of infested poplar seedlings for planting (the pest overwinters as a larva on the stems of 1-year-old poplar seedlings).
Movement in Trade
Poplar wood is not considered to be a likely pathway for spread to new areas.
Plant Trade
Top of pagePlant parts liable to carry the pest in trade/transport | Pest stages | Borne internally | Borne externally | Visibility of pest or symptoms |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bark | arthropods/pupae | Yes | Pest or symptoms usually visible to the naked eye | |
Leaves | arthropods/eggs; arthropods/larvae | Yes | Pest or symptoms not visible to the naked eye but usually visible under light microscope | |
Stems (above ground)/Shoots/Trunks/Branches | arthropods/larvae | Yes | Pest or symptoms usually visible to the naked eye |
Plant parts not known to carry the pest in trade/transport |
---|
Bulbs/Tubers/Corms/Rhizomes |
Flowers/Inflorescences/Cones/Calyx |
Fruits (inc. pods) |
Roots |
Seedlings/Micropropagated plants |
True seeds (inc. grain) |
Wood |
Wood Packaging
Top of pageWood Packaging not known to carry the pest in trade/transport |
---|
Loose wood packing material |
Non-wood |
Processed or treated wood |
Solid wood packing material with bark |
Solid wood packing material without bark |
Impact
Top of pageIn central and southern Europe, the pest is able to harm strong poplar plantations (e.g. Attard, 1979; Booij and Voerman, 1984; Heymans et al., 1985; Jodal, 1986; Georgiev, 1992). The most severe damage is caused in nurseries where the pest may attack up to 80% of poplar seedlings thus making them useless for propagation (Georgiev, 1992).
Environmental Impact
Top of pageDiagnosis
Top of pageDetection and Inspection
Top of pageSimilarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of pageThe moths of G. aceriana are also similar to Gypsonoma dealbana. The young larvae of G. dealbana will eat into the buds and shoots, and the larvae will eat into the catkins of Populus and Salix spp..
Prevention and Control
Top of pageDue to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
Control of G. aceriana is carried out through phytosanitary measures and insecticidal treatments. In poplar nurseries, some soil cultivation techniques must be applied when the pest is a pupa in the ground, in order to kill it.
Chemical control of G. aceriana could be achieved with calendar sprays of systemic insecticides on poplar leaves, stems and branches, the application of granular systemics to the soil in nurseries in the first year of plantation, and by immersing the poplar cuttings in concentrated systemics before planting.
Chemical control of G. aceriana is usually based on three applications with systemic insecticides at a low concentration, at 15-day intervals in June-July, with a fourth application in late September (Arru and Cellerino, 1974; Arru and Lapietra, 1974). Attard (1979) recommended five to eight treatments with organophosphate insecticides with systemic, ovicidal or contact action against different pest stages to protect poplar seedlings in nurseries. However, it is strongly recommended that only permitted insecticides must be used to control G. aceriana.
Systemic granular insecticides (e.g. dimethoate) applied from mid-May to mid-August are proven to be effective in controlling G. aceriana in 1-year-old poplar nurseries and young plantations (Arru and Lapietra, 1971; Lapietra, 1978). Although these treatments assure very satisfactory control, they are very expensive; on average two to ten times more expensive than traditional applications (Arru and Lapietra, 1974).
Treatments consisting of immersing the poplar cuttings in concentrated systemics (1.5-7.5%) before planting, protect the seedlings for 4 months but they are unsatisfactory because of the high phytotoxicity effect (Arru and Lapietra, 1974; Lapietra, 1974).
References
Top of pageAnon, 2001. Lancashire moths, 2001. Annual report 2001. World Wide Web page at http://www.cellcreative.net/~lancs_moths/report2001/2.php.
Arru G, Lapietra G, 1971. Prove di lota in vivai di pioppo con insetticidi sistemici granulari somministrati al terreno. Atti giornate fitopatologiche, 505-512.
Arru GM, Cellerino GP, 1974. Guida per la difesa del pioppo. Terra e vita, 19:21-28.
Arru GM, Lapietra G, 1974. Sull, uso degli insetticidi sistemici contro gli insetti daniosi al pioppo in Italia. Cellulosa e carta, 5:50-60.
Attard G, 1979. The poplar shoot tortricid and its life-cycle in the south-west. Phytoma, 305:23-28
Danilevskii AC, 1955. Tortricidae. In: Pavlovskii EN, ed. Forest pests. Part 1. Leningrad, Moscow: Academy of Science Publishing, 62-115 (in Russian).
Estoup G, 1975. The Poplar shoot moth Gypsonoma [Semasia] aceriana. Possible control measures. Revue Forestiere Francaise, 27(5):357-361.
Georgiev G, 1992. Studies on the morphology, bioecology, and harmfulness of Gypsonoma aceriana Dup. (Lep., Tortricidae) in Bulgaria. In: Tsankov G, ed. Proceedings of national scientific conference of forest protection, Sofia, Bulgaria, 103-110 (in Bulgarian, English summary).
Georgiev G, 1995. Study of the parasitoids of poplar twig borer (Gypsonoma aceriana Dup., Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) in Bulgaria. In: Tsankov G, ed. Third National Conference of Entomology, Sofia, September 18-20, 190-197 (in Bulgarian, English summary).
Georgiev G, 2001. Bioecological characteristics of two Pristomerus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) species as parasitoids of poplar borer insects in Bulgaria. In: Naydenova Ts, ed. Proceedings of the Third Balkan Scientific Conference, Study, Conservation and Utilization of Forest Resources, 2-6 October 2001, Sofia, Bulgaria, Vol. III: 101-110.
Georgiev G, Delkov A, 1999. Bioecological peculiarities of Dolichogenidea erevanica Tob. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) - parasitoid of poplar twig borer, Gypsonoma aceriana (Dup.) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Folia Oecologica, 25(1-2):173-178.
Hadzi-Georgiev K, 1974. Kako se odrazava napad Gypsonoma aceriana Dup. na rasi i prirastaj topolovih stabala. Topola, 102:23-34.
Hrasovec B, Harapin M, 1999. Survey methodology and most important insect pest outbreaks in Croatian forests, http://www.hrsume.hr/hsd/sumarski/5-6-99e.htm. Sumarski list, 5-6.
Jodal I, 1986. Stetni insecti. In: Guzina V, ed. Topole i vrbe u Jugoslaviju. Novi Sad, Yugoslavia: Kultura, 209-219.
Kailidis DS, 1970. Das Pappelinsektenproblem in Griechenland. Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde und Pflanzenschutz, 11:167-171.
Kostjuk JA, 1974. Tortricidae. In: Vasiliev VP, ed. Agricultural and forest pests. Part 2. Urogai, Kiev, 261-320 (in Russian).
Kusevska M, 1972. Morfoloski i bioecoloski proucavanja na topoloviot svitkivac (Gypsonoma aceriana Dup.). Godisnik, Sumarski Institut-Skopje, 7:107-208.
Kusevska M, 1973. Fakultativna diapauza kaj Gypsonoma aceriana Dup. vo uslovi na konstatna experimentalna sredina. Godisen zbornik na zemjod. Sum. Fakultet, Skopje, 25: 121-128.
Kusevska M, 1974-1975. Spectar regulatorskog delovanja insekata parazita na topolovom savijacu (Gypsonoma aceriana Dup.). Topola, 103-106:158-165.
Kuznetzov VI, 1978. Tortricidae. In: Medvedev GS, ed. Insect Key for the European part of USSR. Leningrad, USSR: Nauka, 4(1):193-680.
LaGasa EH, Hertzog P, Barshis D, Turner K, Smith H, 2001. Western Washington Pheromone-trap Delimiting Survey and Field observations for European Poplar Shoot Borer, Gypsonoma aceriana (Duponchel) (Lepidoptera: Torticidae), and Old World Poplar Pest New to North America. Entomology Project Report - WSDA PUB 034 (N/1/00). http://whatcom.wsu.edu/pestsurvey/epsbsurvey.htm.
Lapietra G, 1974. Trattamenti con insetticidi sistemici delle talee di pioppo per prevenire gli attacchi di Gypsonoma aceriana Dup. in vivaio. Cellulosa e Carta, 5:61-71.
Lapietra G, 1978. Pratiche applicazioni di insetticidi sistemici nella difesa del vivaio di pioppo di 1 anno. Cellulosa e Carta, 29(6):25-32.
Morris RC, 1967. Biology of Gypsonoma haimbachiana (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae), a Twig Borer in Eastern Cottonwood. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 60 (2): 423-427.
Nef L, 1992. De populierinsecten in Belgie in de periode 1973-1983 Voorkomen, onderzoek. Bull. Soc. Roy. For. de Belgique, 4:153-162.
Razowski J, 1996. Tortricidae. In: Karsholt O, Razowski J, eds. The Lepidoptera of Europe: a distributional check list. Stenstrup, Denmark: Apollo Books, 130-157.
Distribution References
Anon, 2001. Lancashire moths, 2001. Annual report 2001. In: World Wide Web, http://www.cellcreative.net/~lancs_moths/report2001/2.php
CABI, Undated. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status as determined by CABI editor. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Danilevskii AC, 1955. (Tortricidae). In: Forest pests. Part 1, [ed. by Pavlovskii EN]. Leningrad, Moscow, Academy of Science Publishing. 62-115.
Georgiev G, 1992. Studies on the morphology, bioecology, and harmfulness of Gypsonoma aceriana Dup. (Lep., Tortricidae) in Bulgaria. [Proceedings of national scientific conference of forest protection], [ed. by Tsankov G]. Sofia, Bulgaria: 103-110.
Jodal I, 1986. (Stetni insecti). In: Topole i vrbe u Jugoslaviju, [ed. by Guzina V]. Novi Sad, Yugoslavia: Kultura. 209-219.
Kostjuk JA, 1974. Tortricidae. In: Agricultural and forest pests, [ed. by Vasiliev VP]. Urogai, Kiev, 261-320.
Kusevska M, 1972. (Morfoloski i bioecoloski proucavanja na topoloviot svitkivac (Gypsonoma aceriana Dup.)). In: Godisnik, Sumarski Institut-Skopje, 7 107-208.
Kuznetzov VI, 1978. Tortricidae. In: Insect Key for the European part of USSR, 4 (1) [ed. by Medvedev GS]. Leningrad, USSR, Nauka. 193-680.
Nef L, 1992. (De populierinsecten in Belgie in de periode 1973-1983 Voorkomen, onderzoek). In: Bull. Soc. Roy. For. de Belgique, 4 153-162.
Razowski J, 1996. Tortricidae. In: The Lepidoptera of Europe: a distributional check list, [ed. by Karsholt O, Razowski J]. Stenstrup, Denmark: Apollo Books. 130-157.
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