Chestnuts suffer from minier moths: an autumn without leaves?

Chestnuts suffer from minier moths: an autumn without leaves?

The golden months of autumn are still afraid, but many horse chestnuts have already dropped the first leaves and show themselves in vulnerable condition. The reason for this is not only the progressive climate change, but a small but voracious insect: the chestnut moth. As experts report, the infestation is particularly pronounced this year. Olaf Zimmermann, insect customer at the Augustenberg agricultural technology center in Karlsruhe, sees the effects alarming. Already in the summer months the white -flowered horse chestnuts were almost leafless in parks, avenues and gardens in many places.

As Roland Mühlethaler explains from the Naturschutzbund (NABU), the problem is already evident in the second half of August: The discoloration and the falling of the leaves are typical indicators for a strong infestation that is reinforced by climate change and the associated extreme weather conditions. The trees that suffer primarily from drought are not only less robust, but also attract pests. In the northeast of Germany in particular, the trees have to suffer from years of drought, which also resulted in numerous abdominal attacks.

The role of drought

According to Mühlethaler, the horse chestnuts are particularly susceptible to pests if they suffer from stress due to persistent drought. This has become an increasing problem in recent years. The horse chestnut originally comes from the Mediterranean and needs enough moisture to stay healthy. Linked with strong pest infestation, drought can lead to the trees die in the long term. This could mean that in the near future other tree species have to take the places of the sickly horse chestnuts. The disappearance of this non -territories is not necessarily a loss for domestic flora, since local tree species should be preferred.

The chestnut moth (Cameraria Ohridella) is a small, about five millimeter insect, which lays its eggs on the top of the chestnut leaves. After a ripening period of around three weeks, the larvae hatch, which then eat through the leafine. This leads to the affected leaves quickly withered. Since this significantly affects the photosynthesis of the trees, they are more susceptible to other stress factors by reducing food intake.

effective measures against the infestation

Helpful measures against the chestnut moth are uncomplicated: careful collecting and disposing of the fallen leaves contribute to removing the larvae. Because new moths could soon hatch from these abbreviations, which further add to the trees. Only the white -flowering horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum) are particularly affected, while red -flowering species (Aesculus Carnea) do not suffer from infestation. This represents a positive knowledge that gardeners and park administrations can take into account in the care of the trees.

The horse chestnut has been very popular in Europe since the 17th century because of its beautiful flowers and leaves. However, since 1989 the minier moth has successively conquered Europe and thus increasingly unsettled tree lovers and the environment. Originally, the spread of the moth found its origin in difficult to access gorges of the Balkans.

The future of horse chestnuts

The continuing environmental changes and the threat of the chestnut-mining moth throw a light on the need to deal intensively with the responsibility for our domestic tree species. The protection of domestic flora and fauna should not only be in the interest of nature itself, but also for subsequent generations. Tree species that are robust and can deal with the changes in the climate could soon be found in our parks and gardens, while the horse chestnuts could increasingly take a back seat if the problems are persistent.

Influence of climate change on biodiversity

The living conditions for many plant species have changed significantly due to climate change. Higher temperatures and irregular rainfall are not only a challenge for domestic plants, but also favor the spread of invasive species such as horse chestnut. According to reports of the Federal Office for Nature Conservation (bfn), biodiversity in Germany is increasingly at risk through climate changes. The displacement of the vegetation periods and the design of habitats that are unsuitable for many local species increases the problem. The retention of the home plays a crucial role in ecosystem protection.

Biological protection offers a stable framework for the ecosystems, since domestic species have adapted to the local conditions for thousands of years. Their weakening by non -regional species can disrupt the balance of the ecosystems.

Damage to damage and combating the chestnut moth

statistics and environmental reports show that the spread of the chestnut mining moth in Germany has accepted worrying proportions. Studies of the Julius Kühn-Instituts show that the infestation is particularly high in urban areas, since horse chestnuts are often planted there as all-trees. Some cities have already initiated special programs for monitoring and combating the minier moth to protect the existence of chestnuts.

The control measures are primarily the mechanical removal of affected leaves and the promotion of beneficial lines that eat the larvae of the minier moth. These methods not only aim to combat the current pest, but also to secure the health of the trees in the long term.

The role of the population

The citizens play a crucial role in the fight against the minier moth. Sensitization campaigns, such as those of the nature conservation association (NABU) , encourage residents to actively contribute to combat. By collecting and disposing infested leaves, they make an important contribution to the preservation of the chestnut stocks. In addition, by reporting infestation, you support the scientific institutions to better understand the spread of moth and develop measures.

The exchange and cooperation between citizens, municipalities and specialist organizations are therefore of essential importance to effectively combat this pest and to preserve biodiversity in the domestic forests and cities.