First records of the invasive box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in south-eastern Poland

Abstract

The paper presents the first records of box tree moth from a few localities situated in 5 UTM squares in the Podkarpacie region – in the south-eastern Poland. This species, native to the subtropical regions of East Asia, was accidentally introduced into Europe in the first decade of the 21st century. Box tree moth was observed for the first time in Poland in 2012, and more recently in the Podkarpacie region in 2016. The rapid expansion of the species is mostly explained by the transfer of its preimaginal stages along with its main host plant (Buxus spp.).