Use of an Arboretum and DNA Barcoding for the Detection and Identification of Leaf-Mining Insects on Alien Woody Plants

Arboreta serve as effective tools for identifying alien insect pests and novel trophic associations. In this study, we used an arboretum in Slovenia to survey woody plants identify both native leaf miners. The leaves twigs of 50 plant species their cultivars were examined characteristic damage. We integrative approach that combined identification based on mines DNA barcoding the larvae pupae found mines. total, 62 leaf-mining identified, including eight species, which heliozelid Coptodisca lucifluella (Clemens, 1860) agromyzid Cerodontha unisetiorbita Zlobin, 1992 documented first time. Additionally, three presumably Gracillariidae moths Phyllocnistis labyrinthella (Bjerkander, 1790), P. ramulicola Langmaid & Corley, 2007 saligna (Zeller, 1839) represented record Slovenia. Furthermore, 23 novel-to-science associations, 20 involved insects plants, primarily from Asia. This study highlights importance arboreta botanical gardens interception invasive early detection shifts can aid predicting potential spread.