Preference and performance of the gypsy moth cater­pillars on sweet chestnut and some oak species

In the establishment of mixed plantations, it is necessary to examine previously the relations of the principal and the admixed species and the most significant pests. This paper presents the results of the study of the gypsy moth caterpillar preference and performance on sweet chestnut and four oak species. Preference index is the highest for Hungarian oak (0.83) and Turkey oak (0.77), for sessile oak it is significantly lower (0.33), and for common oak it is equal to 0. In combination with sweet chestnut, the gypsy moth second-instar caterpillars prefer Hungarian oak, i.e. Turkey oak leaves. In combination with sessile oak or common oak, the gypsy moth caterpillars prefer sweet chestnut leaves. The analyzed parameters which characterise the performance of the gypsy moth fourth-instar caterpillars are lower for all study oak species compared to sweet chestnut, except in the case of Turkey oak. Based on the study results and the adopted principle that the mixture should be composed of the most favourable species, which will serve as the 'trap plant' during the gypsy moth outbreak, it can be concluded that Turkey oak is more favourable for the mixture with sweet chestnut than the other analyzed oak species