2009 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 152-160
To clarify the distribution patterns of resource plants suitable for conserving Sasakia charonda, we investigated the densities and sizes of both larval host trees, Celtis sinensis, and trees which serve as an adult food resource, Quercus acutissima, as well as the number of overwintering S. charonda larvae per host tree at an area planted with a mix of C. sinensis and Q. acutissima for preserving S. charonda and in the surrounding area of natural forests. In the afforested area, several of the C. sinensis trees planted in the center withered and died, while none of the Q. acutissima trees died. Dbh (diameter of breast height) of C. sinensis at the edge of the afforested area was significantly larger than that at the interior, and similar to that in the surrounding area of natural forests. In the surrounding natural forests, dbh of C. sinensis at the edge was also significantly larger than that at the interior. The number of overwintering larvae was significantly smaller in the afforested area than in the natural forests. In both the afforested area and the natural forests, the number of overwintering larvae was significantly greater at the edge than in the interior. However, no significant differences were found in the number of overwintering larvae between the edge of the afforested area and in the natural forests. For conservation of S. charonda, it is suggested that Q. acutissima trees should be planted in the interior of a planned afforestation area and C. sinensis should be planted at the edge of the afforestation area.
