Invasive insect potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella: stages of distribution in Russia and prognosis

Abstract

This work summarizes all known data on the distributive history of Phthorimaea operculella in Europe, Asia and Russia with special reference to the current process of invasion to different regions of Russia and prognosis on its future spread through Russian territories. The invasion of the pest started in Russia in 1980. During last ten years from 2010 to 2020, Phthorimaea operculella occupied 5 new Regions of Russia. The threat of naturalization of the pest is high because the potato tuber moth has a high reproductive potential and cases of multiple introductions to various territories of Russia as well as registrations of the pest in places of vegetable storage are known. The modern map of the distribution of Phthorimaea operculella in Russia and selected foreign countries is composed.