Abstract
DR. PAUL SUBÁNYI, University of Agricultural Sciences, Budapest, states in a letter that the first specimen of the moth of fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea Drury) to be caught in Europe was found in the vicinity of the Danubian Free Port of Budapest in 1940. Hitherto it has not been observed outside the United States and Canada. The way it has increased shows that its caterpillar has found very favourable conditions of life in Europe. Nests of the caterpillars were first observed in 1943 ; since then it has increased rapidly, and during 1945–46 it did considerable damage in orchards and on various trees. It was distributed over a semicircular area with a diameter of 80 km. in 1946, which has now increased to 200 km. Indeed, this destructive insect has overrun two-thirds of Hungary, has reached the borders of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, and is approaching those of Austria and Rumania. North of Budapest it is seldom observed, due probably to the prevailing north to north-west wind. Its favourite feeding-plants—the same as in North America—are Acer negundo L. and Morus alba L., from the latter of which it strips the leaves in groves and along the highways. But it feeds on all fruit-bearing and garden trees, and—what is much more dangerous—it has established itself also in the woods. Fifty-eight species belonging to different genera are known to be food plants ; they include oak (Quercus spp.), alder (Alnus glutinosa L-), black locust, (Robinia pseudacada L.), common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.), and also horseradish (Armoracia lapathifolia Gilibi). Two generations of the fall webworm normally hatch in a year. Its swift spread seems to be due not only to suitable conditions, but also to the fact that, so far as Dr. Surànyi's experience goes, the caterpillars are seldom attacked by European parasites.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
The Fall Webworm of North America in Europe. Nature 161, 512 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/161512c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/161512c0