Taxonomy, phenology, and trophics of the urban macrolepidoptera feeding on trees and shrubs

A total of 107 macrolepidopteran species from 12 families have been recorded in 2006–2010 on trees and shrubs in the city of Yekaterinburg; in contrast to natural communities, no lasiocampids and few nymphalids have been found. The proportion of specialized species among the Macrolepidoptera living in the city is decreased, although the proportion of obligate dendrophagous species is increased. Differences in the phenology of lepidopterans living in urban greenery from those living in natural communities have been observed: a decreased proportion of autumn-spring species and an increased proportion of summer species. These differences can be explained both by relatively weak colonization of urban territory by facultative dendrophagous species with their specific seasonal strategies and by differences in methods used to collect the insects.