Journal of Economic Entomology (2018) 111, 227-238

Marco Colacci, Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Christos G. Athanassiou, Maria C. Boukouvala, Christos I. Rumbos, Demetrius C. Kontodimas, David Pardo, José Sancho, Enrique Benavent-Fernández, Santiago Gálvez-Settier, Andrea Sciarretta and Pasquale Trematerra (2018)
Management of the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), in urban and suburban areas: Trials with trunk barrier and adhesive barrier trap devices
Journal of Economic Entomology 111 (1), 227-238
Abstract: In urban and suburban areas larvae of the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller), cause serious defoliation to Cedrus, Pinus, and Pseudotsuga trees and health problems to humans and domestic or farm animals by their urticating setae. In this study, we present the results of biennial trials (2015–2016) on the management of T. pityocampa infestations using commercial or LIFE-PISA prototype trunk barrier and adhesive trap devices in Greece (Attica and Volos), Spain (Valencia), and Italy (Molise). In Attica, for both 2015 and 2016, the commercial trunk barrier trap devices captured significantly more T. pityocampa wintering migrant larvae compared to the adhesive barrier trap devices, indicating their high capture capacity. The total performance of the trunk barriers trap devices was 99.8% in 2015 and 99.6% in 2016. In Volos and Valencia, no significant differences were recorded between captures in commercial and LIFE-PISA prototype trunk barrier trap devices. In the tests that were conducted in Molise, the commercial trunk barrier trap devices exhibited high effectiveness in capturing the wintering migrant larvae during their procession, before they reach the ground for pupation. Moreover, significantly fewer male adults were captured by pheromone trap devices during summer 2016 in comparison with 2015 in the experimental area. Similarly, significantly fewer nests were formed on the experimental area trees in winter 2016 and 2017 compared with 2015. Our results show the potential of the trunk barrier trap devices in the management of T. pityocampa numbers after long-term application in urban and suburban areas.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Andrea Sciarretta, Pasquale Trematerra, Dimitris C. Kontodimas, Christos Rumbos

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Thaumetopoea pityocampa		Greece
	Thaumetopoea pityocampa		Italy
	Thaumetopoea pityocampa		Spain (continental)