Invertebrates in the canopy of willow and poplar short rotation coppices.

Abstract

Over 50 invertebrate species or groups were collected from the canopy of 12 willow and 9 poplar short-rotation coppice plantations in Britain and Ireland in 1994, using a tree-beating method. Although some invertebrates were missed by beating, the abundance of most groups was found to be greater in the willow samples than the poplar. The abundance of three leaf-eating beetles, Phratora vulgatissima, P. vitellinae and Galerucella lineola (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was found to be closely correlated to a measure of leaf defoliation taken in each sample plot. P. vulgatissima was recorded from the majority of willow plots but not from the poplar, while P. vitellinae was recorded from the poplar and not from the willow. G. lineola was recorded from five willow sites, all of which also contained P. vulgatissima. Six plots contained more than 20 chrysomelids per m² (plan) of crop when sampled and at one willow plot, 68% mean leaf area loss was recorded. A sawfly Nematus melanaspis (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) was also abundant at one site.