HOST PLANTS OF THE HORSE-CHESTNUT LEAF-MINER (<i>CAMERARIA OHRIDELLA</i>), AND THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE MOTH IN THE UK 2002–2005

Abstract

Summary Summary The horse-chestnut leaf-miner, Cameraria ohrideila Deschka & Dimić was first found in the UK in 2002, and has since spread to most of south-east England and East Anglia. Its main host-plant is the white flowering horse-chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum L., but the moth also damages other Aesculus species and sometimes sycamore and Norway maple. A review of the host-plant associations of C. ohrideila indicates that within the genus Aesculus, susceptibility or resistance to the leaf-miner depends on the taxonomic and evolutionary relationships between the trees species, rather than geographic origin, and is not related to tree form, height or flower colour. The spread of C. ohridella in the UK has occurred at a similar rate as on the continent, but the pattern of spread suggests a more important role for natural dispersal than was observed during the invasion of mainland Europe. Keywords: Aesculus hippocastanum Cameraria ohrideila defoliationdispersalhorse-chestnuthost plants