Species composition of coniferous plant pests in urban landscapes of the Krasnodar Territory

Abstract

The results of the studies of conifers as a material for landscaping of settlements, and as an accent and dominant in decorative compositions or in mono-planting are presented. The expansion of coniferous plant assortment for landscape construction of southern Russia in the 2000s was noted due to the introduction of crops from other regions with different natural and climatic conditions. Newly planted crops are under stress, which has a negative effect on the immune status of the introduced plants. The results of the study of the species composition of sucking pests of coniferous plants in urban landscapes are presented. The world experience in the studies of urban landscapes shows the expansion of the species composition of pests from the order of homopterous insects (Homoptera). Phytosanitary monitoring of ornamental conifers in urban plantations and park areas in the Kuban zone of the central horticultural subzone of the Krasnodar Territory in 2012-2022 was conducted. As a result of these studies, the species diversity of sucking pests of coniferous plants in the region has been identified, their ranking by the type of feeding has been carried out, and a database is being compiled. It has been found that the dominant representatives of the superfamily Coccidae in the region are: European juniper scale insect (Carulaspis juniperi Bouché) and yew pseudo scale insect (Parthenolecanium pomeranicum Kawecki), and pine spindle scale insect (Anamaspis lowi Colvee). The regularities of food specialization of scales are of not only theoretical but also practical importance. Based on the research, the probable composition of pests on a newly introduced crop can be predicted. The resulting patterns are one of the theoretical foundations of pest control measures.