Chorology, flight curves and diel activity of oak-living clear-wing moths in Extremadura, SW Spain (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)

Aim of study: To acquire data on the chorology, phenology and diel activity of oak-living clear-wing moths, given the increased phytosanitary impact of some species. Area of study: The region of Extremadura (SW Spain), with more than 1.2 million hectares of oak forests. Material and methods:...

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Main Authors: Luis M. Torres-Vila, Adrián J. Montero-Calvo, F. Javier Mendiola-Díaz, Rafael López-Calvo, Álvaro Sánchez-González, Francisco Ponce-Escudero, Félix Fernández-Moreno, Zdeněk Laštůvka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) 2025-06-01
Series:Forest Systems
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Online Access:https://fs.revistas.csic.es/index.php/fs/article/view/20915
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Summary:Aim of study: To acquire data on the chorology, phenology and diel activity of oak-living clear-wing moths, given the increased phytosanitary impact of some species. Area of study: The region of Extremadura (SW Spain), with more than 1.2 million hectares of oak forests. Material and methods: Trapping using sex pheromones was conducted over four years (2020-2023) throughout Extremadura (42 site by year combinations) in holm, cork and Pyrenean oak woodlands. The main target species were monitored (April-November) with delta traps to construct flight curves and with automated traps to assess diel activity. Main results: Abundance-occupancy values revealed that the main species were Synanthedon conopiformis and Synanthedon vespiformis, followed by Paranthrene insolita and Synanthedon codeti. These clear-wing moths were well distributed and occurred in all three oak habitats over a wide altitudinal range. Adult phenology was species-specific: P. insolita and S. conopiformis mostly occurred in spring, S. codeti in summer, while S. vespiformis exhibited a marked bimodal flight pattern with peaks in May and September- October. Adults of S. vespiformis were larger in spring than in summer/autumn, which is discussed from an ecological-evolutionary perspective. Diel activity differed between species; the earliest was P. insolita (15:00-18:00 h), then S. vespiformis (17:00-19:00 h), and finally S. conopiformis (19:00-21:00 h). Two target species (Synanthedon stomoxiformis and Synanthedon spuleri) were never recorded, while some non-target ones were captured. Research highlights: This research contributes to the understanding of the life-history and behaviour of oak-living clear-wing moths in SW Spain. Data will be useful for managing these oak woodborers in dehesa forests.
ISSN:2171-5068
2171-9845