A cosmopolitan invader – Choreutis sexfasciella (Lepidoptera, Choreutidae) – in Cyprus: first record, molecular characterization, and a reared parasitoid

The Banyan Leaf Skeletonizer moth, Choreutis sexfasciella (Sauber, 1902) (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae), is reported from Cyprus for the first time from Ficus microcarpa L.fil. and F. benjamina L. trees in urban areas of Larnaca, Limassol, and Paphos. C. sexfasciella was originally described from the Philippines and has rapidly extended its range in the last five years into several Mediterranean countries as well as into North America. DNA barcode sequencing of several specimens from Cyprus has demonstrated that they are closely related to North American specimens. The parasitoid wasp Elasmus cf. cyprianus Ferrière, 1947 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been reared from leaves infested with larvae of C. sexfasciella . The observed socioeconomic impacts of the non-native moth and the potential use of its parasitoid as a biological control agent are discussed.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nota Lepidopterologica
Published
2025-02-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.48.137778
Primary Topic
Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

A cosmopolitan invader – Choreutis sexfasciella (Lepidoptera, Choreutidae) – in Cyprus: first record, molecular characterization, and a reared parasitoid

Evangelos Koutsoukos, Jakovos Demetriou, Angeliki F. Martinou, Marios Aristophanous et al.
Nota Lepidopterologica
Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
article

A cosmopolitan invader – Choreutis sexfasciella (Lepidoptera, Choreutidae) – in Cyprus: first record, molecular characterization, and a reared parasitoid

Evangelos Koutsoukos, Jakovos Demetriou, Angeliki F. Martinou, Marios Aristophanous, Helen Elizabeth Roy, Jadranka Rota, Eddie John
article en

Abstract

The Banyan Leaf Skeletonizer moth, Choreutis sexfasciella (Sauber, 1902) (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae), is reported from Cyprus for the first time from Ficus microcarpa L.fil. and F. benjamina L. trees in urban areas of Larnaca, Limassol, and Paphos. C. sexfasciella was originally described from the Philippines and has rapidly extended its range in the last five years into several Mediterranean countries as well as into North America. DNA barcode sequencing of several specimens from Cyprus has demonstrated that they are closely related to North American specimens. The parasitoid wasp Elasmus cf. cyprianus Ferrière, 1947 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has been reared from leaves infested with larvae of C. sexfasciella . The observed socioeconomic impacts of the non-native moth and the potential use of its parasitoid as a biological control agent are discussed.

Nota LepidopterologicaVol. 48
Cyprus Institute (CY), Lund University (SE), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR), University of Exeter (GB), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (GB), Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (CY)
National Science Foundation, Genome Canada, Government of the United Kingdom, Grantová Agentura České Republiky, Lunds Universitet, Akademie Věd České Republiky, Turun Yliopisto, Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Openalex Percentile: Top 96%
Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
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