Trophic Structure and Economic Significance of the Most Important Pests of Green Plants in Volgograd

This paper examines the trophic structure of the phyllophage population in green plants of Volgograd, presents an analysis of the taxonomic composition of the population with the establishment of the lifestyle and type of damage to the assimilation apparatus of woody plants by various pests, highlights the most common and significant harmful insects of the main tree species (elm, poplar, robinia, pine). It has been established that the richest species abundance of the monophage complex (78.7% of the total insect population), the least – oligophages (4.9%). It is noted that the species diversity of the trophic spectrum of phyllophages in communities of individual tree species is characterized by imbalance. It has been established that the group of economically dangerous pests includes: 7 species of harmful insects, the damage to which of the assimilation apparatus of woody plants leads to a sharp deterioration in the condition and drying out of trees, a decrease in the ecological, aesthetic and social appearance of plantings; 12 species characterized by a lower danger to plants, but significantly reducing the decorative qualities of trees; 9 species, outbreaks of mass reproduction of which were observed in suburban forests and urban plantings, in some years they were encountered in increased numbers. The analysis of the obtained data indicates the possible formation in the coming years of outbreaks of mass reproduction of a number of the most important pests of the assimilation apparatus and severe damage to tree species that form the basis of green spaces in the territory of Volgograd, such as Xanthogaleruca luteola, Dicranura ulmi, Neodiprion sertifer, Acantholyda erythrocephala and Acantholyda posticalis.