Eur. J. Entomol. 90 (3): 311-321, 1993
Isolated populations of the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), their heavy metal content and parasitism
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Ten dominant heavy metals were analyzed in adults of the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.), from six sites in four isolated localities in South Bohemia. At all of the sites, metal concentrations conformed to the order Zn> Fe> Cu> Mn> Ni> Pb> Co> Cd> Cr> Hg. The highest concentration of toxic metals (lead and cadmium) was found in moths associated with trees along the main road in Plástovice (3.1 and 1.1 ppm, respectively), while it was lowest in the Èervené Blato peat bog (1.1 and 0.1 ppm, respectively). The main parasitoids were two tachinid flies, Cyzenis albicans Fall. and Phorocera obscura Fall., and one ichneumonid wasp, Agrypon flaveolatum Grav. Overall parasitism was low (2.8 and 5.9% in 1991 and 1992, respectively). The highest percentage of parasitism was on larvae in the unpolluted Èervené Blato bog (4.8 and 28.3% in 1991 and in 1992, respectively), and the lowest on apple trees along the main road in Plastovice, which was the most polluted site of the four localities.
Keywords: Ecology, Lepidoptera, Operophtera brumata, heavy metal concentrations, pollution, parasitism, isolated populations
Accepted: April 23, 1993; Published: October 25, 1993 Show citation
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