HORSE-CHESTNUT LEAF MINER

(Redirected from Cameraria ohridella)

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.

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

Contents

Spread of ''Cameraria ohridella'' across Europe

References

External links

Spread of ''Cameraria ohridella'' across Europe

★ 1985 Macedonia

★ 1989 Austria

★ 1996 Germany

★ 1997 Hungary

★ 1998 Czech Republic

★ 1999 France

★ 2002 Denmark

★ 2002 England

★ 2003 Poland

★ 2003 Ukraine

★ 2003 Sweden

References

External links

★ HAMburger-CAMeraria-Projekt - Films Photos incl. REM in German

★ Cameraria Homepage in German and English

★ Prague University Cameraria homepage in English

★ Forestry Commission Research page in English

★ Mactode Publications - Educational Resources on CD/DVD in English

★ HAMburger-CAMeraria-Projekt in German