The beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) in the focus of agricultural entomology objectives: I. The periodicity of pest outbreaks

Abstract

Analysis of the published data on the population dynamics of the beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis L., including its relation to solar activity, was made. The official statistical data from Russia and China testify to asynchronous outbreaks of the webworm in these countries, which suggests the existence of at least two population systems within the species range, the Euro-Siberian (Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan) and Central Asian (China and Mongolia) ones, geographically isolated by mountain systems (Tien Shan, Pamir, Altai, and the Sayan mountains) and deserts and bridged by the narrow East Siberian corridor. The theoretical and applied aspects of this conclusion are discussed, including the necessity for further studying of the population dynamics of this dangerous pest.