Assessment of Biological and Ecological Characteristics of Sievers Apple Tree Pests in Trans-Ili Alatau, Kazakhstan

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the occurrence of three significant pests, namely the apple ermine moth (Y. malinellus Zell.), the rosebush leaf roller (A. rosana L.), and the hawthorn leaf roller (C. crataegana Hb.), commonly found in Sievers apple trees. The research was conducted within the Ili-Alatau state national natural park, focusing on populations of the Sievers apple tree on the northern slope of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountain range. The study revealed varying pest abundances across different monitoring sites within the park. The apple ermine moth (Y. malinellus Zell.) exhibited lower occurrence compared to A. rosana L. and C. crataegana Hb. The Aksai and Kuznetsov Gorge populations of the Sievers apple tree showed higher susceptibility to the ermine moth. The rosebush leaf roller (A. rosana L.) was dominant in the Aksai and Oi-Zhailau populations, while the hawthorn leaf roller (C. crataegana Hb.) exhibited higher abundance in several monitoring sites. Phenological studies revealed that Y. malinellus Zell. have a life cycle of one year, the developmental stages of A. rosana L. last for approximately 9–10 months, and the life cycle of C. crataegana Hb. is also one year. The data obtained allowed us to assess pest status, which will hopefully help in developing protective measures for suppressing their outbreak in the region.