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The Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus: a global invader and a successful case of classical biological control

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Abstract

Native to China, the Asian chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus (ACGW), was first found outside its native range in Japan and the Korean peninsula in the mid-twentieth century. After appearing in North America in 1974, it was found in Europe a few decades later. Since then, the gall wasp has spread throughout the distribution of chestnut in Europe. The ACGW’s discovery in North America and Europe elicited numerous studies to understand its invasive potential in these areas and how to control its spread and impact on chestnut production. Although endemic parasitoids responded positively to D. kuriphilus with low parasitism rates, the most effective management tactic has been classical biological control via the introduction of the parasitoid Torymus sinensis from its native range in China. This review summarizes the history of introduction, spread, and current distribution of D. kuriphilus, and highlights one of the most successful cases of classical biological control against a forest pest.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Guest Editors of the Special Issue “Invasive insect pests of forest and urban trees: pathways, early detection and management” for the invitation to contribute this review to this Special Issue.

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This review was not supported by any grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Forest Research Institute, 570 06, Vassilika, Thessaloníki, Greece

    Dimitrios N. Avtzis

  2. Plant Health and Molecular Biology Laboratory, National Food Chain Safety Office, Directorate of Plant Protection, Soil Conservation and Agri-Environment, Budaörsi Str. 141-145, Budapest, 1118, Hungary

    George Melika

  3. Division for Forest Protection and Game Management, Croatian Forest Research Institute, Jastrebarsko, Croatia

    Dinka Matošević

  4. Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA

    David R. Coyle

Authors
  1. Dimitrios N. Avtzis
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  2. George Melika
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  3. Dinka Matošević
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  4. David R. Coyle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dimitrios N. Avtzis.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Communicated by J.D. Sweeney.

Special Issue on Invasive Pests of Forests and Urban Trees.

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Avtzis, D.N., Melika, G., Matošević, D. et al. The Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus: a global invader and a successful case of classical biological control. J Pest Sci 92, 107–115 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-1046-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-1046-1

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