Distributional Characteristics of Insect Communities in Introduced Pin Oak Trees With Different Environments of Korea, With Special Notes on Major Insect Pests

Abstract

The pin oak (Quercus palustris Münchh.), a species introduced from North America, has recently seen an increase in nationwide planted as ornamental trees, including streets, parks, etc., in South Korea. The aims of this study are to investigate the distributional characteristics of insect communities on pin oaks across different regions with different environments and to describe injury characteristics of major insect pests. From 2022 to 2023, we conducted investigations at 15 locations where pin oak trees were planted. We performed visual inspections on branches and trunks within 5 m height of trees to record insect pest presence and damage characteristics, using pruning poles to sample branches when needed. As a result, various taxa, mainly Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera, were identified, and densities of pests varied depending on the planted environment. In the central region of South Korea, the predominant or important species were wood-boring insect pests such as clearwing moths (Cossidae) and longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae). In contrast, the southern region exhibited a higher prevalence of folivorous Lepidoptera. Among six different environments, the largest number of pests was found in parks and followed by street, riverside, tree market, etc. These results suggest that pest monitoring and management strategies tailored to specific regions and environments are necessary when planting pin oak trees. In future, pest control in pin oak trees is more challenging based on this study. Consequently, forest pests are causing damage not only to forests but also to street trees in urban areas, highlighting the need for countermeasures.