Herbivorous insects on planted birch in the Faroe Islands

The study was carried out during July 12-30, 1984. The aphid Euceraphis punctipennis (Zett.) was found at almost all sites with Betula species. Larvae of the geometrid Operophtera brumata (L.) were the most abundant and common lepidopteran consumers of birch leaves. They caused, together with larvae of the tortricid Epinotia solandriana (L.), visible damage to birches but no real defoliation. Coleophora serratella (L.) was found for the first time in the Faroes, in Tórshavn; on the same young birches the weevil Otiorhynchus singularis (L.) also occurred in great numbers. One individual of the elaterid beetle Athous subfuscus (Müll.), a species new to Faroese fauna, was observed on birch in Tórshavn.