Pests in the wild: life history and behaviour of Lobesia botrana on Daphne gnidium in a natural environment

Abstract: We studied the phenology of the European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Den. & Schiff.), on Daphne gnidium L. in the Natural Reserve of San Rossore-Migliarino-Massaciuccoli (Pisa – Tuscany). D. gnidium is regarded by many as the original host plant of EGVM and the aim was to understand the real trophic relationships of EGVM with D. gnidium in a natural ecosystem where the grapevine is not present.