The record of new pest Cydalimaper spectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) from Iran

The box tree moth, Cydalimaper spectalis (Walker, 1859), is a native pest of Buxus trees in the subtropical regions of East Asia that has been recently introduced in Europe in 2007. Different instar larvae and pre-pupae of box tree moth were collected in July-August 2016 on Buxus hyrcana Pojark.in the Forest of Gilan province. The damage caused on box trees at the locality of research was found to be serious. Cydalima perspectalis larvae feed on leaves and bark of shoots. The late instar larvae have ashiny black head and they are light green with two longitudinal black thick stripes and white dots in between at the lateral part ofthe body; they also have black dots outlinedin white on the dorsal side of the body. The length of pupae is about 2.0 cm and conceal between the leave and shoots. The adult is easily recognizable based on external morphology. Adult wingspan is about 4.0 cm and the wings are completely brown with white discoidal spot on the forewings. This is the first record of this pest and its damages in Iran on B. hyrcana. It can be expected that the pest will rapidly spread to other parts of Iran, indicting a need for further studies.