Phenology and seasonal dynamics of Corythucha arcuata (Hemiptera: Tingidae) on four autochthonous oak species in Serbia

The oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata (Say, 1832), is a widespread invasive species infesting various oaks in Europe and Asia. In this observational study, we explored phenology and investigated seasonal population dynamics of C. arcuata on four oak species native to Europe and widespread in Serbia. It was found that the species has three generations in Serbia. There was a population peak in July and high abundance was maintained in August and September. Leaf damage, the total number of eggs laid and insects collected varied greatly between the different oak species and the feeding preference of C. arcuata for certain oak species we studied was not clear. The sex ratio of the oak lace bug was predominantly female-biased. Five successive phases could be distinguished in the population dynamics of C. arcuata, following the annual sequence of species development. It was suggested that the different exposure of a tree to the sun influences the aggregation patterns of insects in the canopy.