Gesunde Pflanzen (2011) 63, 51-61

Eiko Wagenhoff and Holger Veit (2011)
Five years of continuous Thaumetopoea processionea monitoring: Tracing population dynamics in an arable landscape of south-western Germany
Gesunde Pflanzen 63 (2), 51-61
Abstract: Within this paper we summarize the results of the Thaumetopoea processionea monitoring at two observation sites and try to interpret population dynamics from 2006 to 2010 considering meteorological data. Furthermore, observations on the behaviour of neonates associated with oak budburst are presented and discussed. In 2007 large larval colonies occurred and population densities peaked. Massive defoliation and larval migration due to food shortage were observed regularly leading to reduced female moth fecundity. Unfavourable weather conditions probably abetted OPM population decline in spring 2008. Additionally oak budburst was delayed remarkably. More detailed observations on the hatching process and the behaviour of single colonies revealed increasing mortality after two and a half weeks of starvation. The 2009 results indicated another increase of population densities, but exceeded cool and humid weather conditions in May 2010 presumably prevented a new OPM outbreak. In accordance with previous studies egg parasitisation seems to play a minor role in OPM population dynamics.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Eiko Wagenhoff

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Thaumetopoea processionea	Oak (Quercus)	Germany