Pest Insect Fauna on Cherry Trees and Damage Caused by a Thysanopteran Insect on Cherry Leaves for Confectionary Use

Abstract

Salt-preserved cherry leaves are used as an indispensable material for traditional Japanese sweets. The leaves are harvested from cherry trees (Prunus lannesiana var. speciosa) grown mainly in Southern Izu Peninsula, central Japan, where cherry tree growing is one of the most important industries. Until today there have been few reports on the pest insects infesting these cherry trees. The author surveyed the pest insect fauna on the cherry trees, resulting in 50 species including two spider mite species. It was clarified that peculiar elongated holes on the cherry leaves were caused by feeding behavior of Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom) (Thysanoptera Thripidae) before leaf unfolding.