Environmental Entomology (1995) 24, 707-715

Elena L. Zvereva, Mikhail V. Kozlov, Seppo Neuvonen (1995)
Population density and performance of Melasoma lapponica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in surroundings of smelter complex
Environmental Entomology 24 (3), 707-715
Abstract: We studied populations of the willow feeding leaf beetle, Melasoma lapponica L., in the vicinity of the Severonikel smelter complex at the Kola Peninsula, northwest Russia. Increased abundance of M. lapponica around the smelter is explained by habitat changes that have resulted in higher density of the most preferred host plant, Salix borealis (Fries) Nasar. Within the polluted territory, 10- to 20-fold higher densities occurred in moderately polluted sites than both in heavily and slightly polluted areas. Laboratory experiments demonstrated the highest survival of insects fed with leaves of S. borealis from the moderately polluted site, whereas female life span, fecundity, and egg viability decreased toward the smelter. Host-plant quality together with parasite-induced mortality explained the density pattern observed along pollution gradients.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Mikhail V. Kozlov, Elena L. Zvereva

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Chrysomela lapponica	Willow (Salix)	Russia (Eur.)