FIRST REPORT OF PRYERIA SINICA (LEPIDOPTERA: ZYGAENIDAE) IN NORTH AMERICA

Authors: Brown, John; EPSTEIN, MARC - NMNH, WASHINGTON, DC; DAY, ERIC - VA TECH UNIV. BLACKSBURG

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/2003
Publication Date: 10/8/2003
Citation: Brown, J.W., Epstein, M.E., Day, E.R. 2003. First report of pryeria sinica (lepidoptera: zygaenidae) in north america. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 106: 239-242

Interpretive Summary: Invasive insect species cause billions of dollars in damage and costs of control annually. Hence it is important to detect them early and implement measure that reduce their negative impact. We report the recent discovery in the United States of an invasive moth species from the Far East (China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and eastern Russia) which is causing considerable damage to ornamental landscaping in Fairfax, Virginia. Based on a risk assessment of an ornamental plant conducted in 1996 by USDA, APHIS, the moth was considered to have high potential for introduction and subsequent establishment in the U.S. in association with the proposed importation of Chinese penjing (landscape bonsai). The information presented in this report will be valuable to ornamental landscapers, local and state pest control managers, and action agencies such as APHIS whose task is to exclude invasive pests at U.S. ports-of-entry.

Technical Abstract: We report the first North American records of Pryeria sinica Moore (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) in Fairfax, Virginia, where it is causing considerable damage to ornamental Euonymus. We suspect that the pathway for its introduction into the U.S. was via nursery stock from the Far East. The species is Palaearctic in distribution, recorded from Russia (Far East), China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Its documented food plants include two families - Buxaceae and Celastraceae. We provide details on its life history.