Abstract
In the recent years several insect species have shown substantial northward area expansion in Europe, of an average speed of 20-50 km/year. In several cases an unexpected, abrupt movement for 200-800 km northward, over short period of time were found. The warmer winters could promote the northward expansion of insects. Main subjects of the studies are: distribution, phenology, populationdynamics, biodiversity. Aims: To study the further distribution of several important pest species as D. perniciosus, P. pentagona, of fruit trees and ornamentals. The project should include important new pests spreading in Europe as: I. purchasi, U. euonymi, C. juniperi, C. minima, C. japonicus P. comstocki, all mostly on ornamentals, L. pusilla on pine trees, N. immeretina on grape, A. purpurea on grasses (Coccoidea); B. cotesii on Rosa sp., B. tabaci on flowers, A. guyavae on peach (Aleyrodoidea); M. pruniosa (Flatidae) (all spreading from South to North); P. regalis, and E. hydrangeae on ornamental plants (spreading from North-West towards South-East). Development of a new concept an European insect thermometer project working along the Athen-Bruxelles and Rome-Kiev axises, using one, two, three, four dimensional insect thermometer method. It would be possible to establish the direction, speed, and variability of spreading. The experiments are concentrated on the highways, what are ecological corridors, and are convenient to place insect traps in different parts of Europe as a monitoring network. The highways could serve as standard, permanent capillar of the insect termometer. The research model proposed in this grant proposal, the developed methods and infrastructura could be useful for other projects on different insect and weed groups in Hungary and further in a wider European Union project.
Hungary