Poplar-pest
Guides
Anacampsis populella
poplar sober
A small gelechiid moth native to Europe, accidentally introduced to North America. Adults are active from May to September with variable whitish forewings marked with black or dark grey. Larvae are leaf-rollers that feed on poplars and willows, constructing silk-bound leaf tubes in which they develop and pupate. The species is univoltine, with eggs overwintering.
Chaitophorus
Poplar aphids, Willow aphids
Chaitophorus is a genus of aphids comprising approximately 90–110 species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Members are primarily associated with Salicaceae hosts, particularly Populus (poplars) and Salix (willows), though some species occur on Vitaceae, Apiaceae, and Asteraceae. The genus exhibits host-specificity, with species-level identification often requiring knowledge of the host plant due to subtle morphological differences. Multiple independent origins of ant mutualism have been documented within the genus.
Clostera
Clostera is a genus of moths in the family Notodontidae, subfamily Pygaerinae, containing approximately 30 described species distributed across the Holarctic and Oriental regions. Multiple species, including C. anachoreta, C. anastomosis, C. fulgurita, and C. cupreata, are recognized as significant defoliators of poplar (Populus) trees in forestry contexts across China, India, Europe, and Japan. The genus has been extensively studied for its economic impact and as a target for biological control and Bt toxin research.
Euwallacea interjectus
ambrosia beetle
Euwallacea interjectus is an ambrosia beetle native to Asia that has become an invasive pest in multiple regions worldwide. The species cultivates mutualistic Fusarium fungi in galleries within tree xylem, which serve as its primary food source. Females possess specialized mycangia for transporting fungal spores. The beetle has emerged as a significant economic threat to poplar plantations in China and has been documented attacking living trees, a behavior atypical for many ambrosia beetles. In Japan, it vectors Ceratocystis ficicola, a pathogenic fungus causing fig wilt disease.
Paranthrene tabaniformis
dusky clearwing, dusky clearwing moth, poplar clearwing moth
Paranthrene tabaniformis, the dusky clearwing moth, is a sesiid moth native to the Palearctic and Nearctic realms. The species exhibits Batesian mimicry of wasps, with transparent wings and wasp-like coloration. Adults are active from May to August, with flight activity varying by location. The larvae are wood-borers that develop through 6-7 instars, feeding internally on poplar, willow, and sea-buckthorn before pupating in chambers within larval galleries.
Phratora
Phratora is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) distributed across the Northern Hemisphere in cool, moist regions where their host plants occur. The genus is synonymous with Phyllodecta. Species in this genus feed primarily on willows (Salix), poplars (Populus), or birch (Betula), with host plant associations showing evolutionary conservation—closely related beetle species tend to feed on closely related plant species. European species are difficult to distinguish by external morphology alone and require examination of female genitalia for reliable identification. Several species, particularly Phratora vulgatissima, are economically significant pests of short-rotation coppice willow plantations.
Phyllonorycter apparella
Aspen Leaf Blotch Miner, Aspen Leaf Blotch Miner Moth
A small leaf-mining moth in the family Gracillariidae with a wingspan of 8.5–10 mm. Larvae create blotch mines on aspen and related poplar species, with each mine housing a single larva. The species has one generation per year and is found across most of Europe, Turkey, and North America.