Establishment of <i>Hypena opulenta</i> (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) on <i>Vincetoxicum rossicum</i> in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Hypena opulenta, a moth native to Ukraine, was released in 2013–2014 as a biocontrol agent for pale swallow-wort Vincetoxicum rossicum, an invasive vine, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Blacklight trapping and surveys of feeding damage showed that H. opulenta has successfully established, increased in abundance and spread up to 2.0 km.