Oak beauty

Systematic position. The Oak beauty (Latin: Biston strataria) belongs to the order Lepidoptera, family Geometridae. This moth species is a well-known forest pest that can also infiltrate orchards and domestic gardens, causing aesthetic and biological damage to trees.

Host plants. This insect is a polyphage, meaning it feeds on a wide range of host plants. The larvae primarily target deciduous trees such as oak, birch, and lime, but also frequently attack fruit crops, including apple, pear, and plum trees, causing visible damage to the canopy.

Biology and life cycle. The adult moths emerge in early spring. Females deposit their eggs in clusters on the trunks and twigs of the host trees. The larvae emerge shortly after and undergo several instars during spring and early summer. Pupation occurs in the soil, where the pupae hibernate until the following spring.

Damage and harmfulness. The larvae are voracious feeders that consume entire leaf blades, leaving only the primary veins. Severe infestations result in significant defoliation, which stresses the tree, weakens its structural integrity, and severely reduces the seasonal fruit yield.

Control measures. Protecting orchards from the Oak beauty involves several critical strategies:

• Tilling the soil around the base of trees in autumn to expose and destroy overwintering pupae.
• Installing sticky traps on tree trunks to capture migrating larvae.
• Applying targeted insecticides or biological agents when the larvae are in their early stages.
• Promoting the presence of natural predators, such as birds and parasitic wasps, to regulate population levels.