Literature review of gardenia pests and insect pests found on planted Gardenia jasminoides forma ovalifolia and G. jasminoides in the Tatsuda-yama Experimental Forest of Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Kumamoto Prefecture

Abstract

The double-flowered gardenia, Gardenia jasminoides forma ovalifolia, was first discovered in the 1920’s on Mt. Tatsuda-yama. Although considered extinct in its natural habitat, the double-flowered gardenia survives in cultivation with all individuals consisting of clones originating from wild individuals. The gardenia has been planted for ornamental, greening and conservation purposes in various sites. However, plantings of the double flowered gardenia have frequently been damaged by insect and mite pests. In this study, we conducted a literature review and field survey to investigate the gardenia pests with the aim of accumulating information that may be beneficial for its utilization in cultivation and the success of conservation-plantings for double-flowered gardenia. In the literature review, information on the insects and mites which damage the single-flowered form of gardenia, G. jasminoides, were summarized including the infection pattern of each pest species. The field survey was conducted to identify and record pests found on both forms planted in the Tatsuda-yama Experimental Forest of the Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute from mid-May to early December 2022. The literature review revealed that a total of 40 pest species, including 13 species of Lepidoptera (12 moth species and one butterfly species), twenty-two species of Hemiptera, four species of Thysanoptera, and one species of Acari have been reported as pests. During the field survey, a total of nine species were identified as pests: eight species of Lepidoptera and one species of Hemiptera. Three moth species (Somena pulverea, Ectropis excellens and Microleon sp.) found in the field survey were not recorded as pests in the literature. The field survey also demonstrated the importance of controlling three particular pests, Cephonodes hylas, Alucita flavofascia and Prophantis adusta, which did serious damage to both gardenia forms during our field survey.