| Abstract [eng] |
Leaf-mining moths – a current group of organisms that is rapidly being studied on. Caterpillars of leaf-mining moths are significant plant-based pests. One of the most significant display of leaf-mining moths specialization is their catterpillars endobiontic lifestyle in assimilative plant tissues. In many of Lithuania‘s municipal districs, including Šalčininkai, mining Nepticulidae, Eriocraniidae, Tischeriidae and Lyonetiidae are yet to be sufficiently researched. The aim of this research – to study leaf-mining moths fauna and trophic relations in Šalčininkai district. The thesis objectives: to identify leaf-mining moths species composition in Šalčininkai district; to analyze the prevalence of identified leaf-mining moth species; identify the trophic relations of leaf-mining moth species; to assess the abundance and detectability of identified leaf-mining moths in Šalčininkai district. Species of leaf-mining moths were identified according to the collected mines by analyzing literature sources – monographs and identification keys. The data for every leaf-mining moth species are documented. Moths were grown from mining catterpillars, and prepared slide sets for transient genital structures in order to classify species of leaf-mining moths, which are difficult to identify by mines or grown moths alone. In order to assess the detectability of leaf-mining moths, their abundance and increase in research areas were measured. Throughout the research, 66 species of leaf-mining moths were identified in Šalčininkai district. This makes up 67 percent of all known species of Eriocraniidae, Lyonetiidae, Nepticulidae and Tischeriidae in Lithuania. The fauna of Nepticulidae in the Šalčininkai district expanded with a new species – Stigmella sakhalinella. It has been found that more leaf-mining moth species are found in urban areas than in forests. A large part of the leaf-mining moth species identified in Šalčininkai district (62 percent) feed on more than one species of plants. It has been established, that the majority of leaf-mining moth species are trophically related to plant families of Rosaceae and Betulaceae. Previously unknown in Lithuanian fauna, new host plant species of Leucoptera malifoliella, Lyonetia clerkella, Stigmella plagicolella and S. oxyacanthella have been identified. In Šalčininkai district, the fauna of leaf-mining moths consists mainly of rare and common (29 percent each). Prevalent species were found to be predominantly widespread or restricted, with bountiful mining, rare species – to have a very localized increase with moderately abundant mining, and common species to have a limited or localized spread and abundant mining. |
