The mechanism of herbivore insect outbreak at the secondary broad-leaf tree forest regenerated after artificial disturbance.

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In Hokkaido, the outbreak of herbivore insect (Saturnia japonica) has occurred in monarch birch forest regenerated after artificial disturbance (ex. forest fire, forest thinning). We investigated the host tree preference and the behavior characteristic of Saturnia japonica by the bioassay experiment and the field observation. The growth of larvae of Saturnia japonica feeding monarch birch leaves were much higher than that feeding other tree species and the mobility capability of Saturnia japonica was much low. According to these results, we indicate that the outbreak of Saturnia japonica will continue only at the pure monarch birch forest, which provide optimum feeding condition to Saturnia japonica larvae.