Phytoparasitica (1997) 25, 152-153

Nitza Saphir, Z. Madar, A. Zahavi and Z. Mendel (1997)
Management of the populations of the pine processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, in planted pine stands in Israel
Phytoparasitica 25 (2), 152-153
10th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel, February 11, 1997, Bet Dagan, Israel, lecture
Abstract: The pine processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. and Schiff.) (= T. wilkinsoni Tams.), is a major defoliator of pine in Israeli planted forests, with major injury being caused to young and adult pine stands in arid areas (western slopes of the Judean hills and northern Negev) and to young stands throughout its range. The susceptible pine species are Pinus canariensis, P. brutia ssp. eldarica, P. halepensis and P. brutia ssp. brutia. Due to the urticarian hairs of its larvae, T. pityocampa may cause serious health problems to visitors and travelers camping in heavily infested sites. Management of populations of T. pityocampa, based on monitoring in October and November of egg masses and nests of young larvae, is conducted by the foresters and supervised by the forest protection officers. Intensive surveys are directed at the progression frontlines of T. pityocampa in the Carmel region and northern Samaria of a population expanding northward, and to a population that penetrated from Lebanon to Upper Galilee and is spreading southward. The accumulated monitoring data are analyzed by the plant protection division of the Keren Kayemet LeYisrael for final decision on areas to be treated subsequently. Until the mid 1980s, mainly endosulfan was applied to protect the infested stands. Since then, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) preparations have been used specifically to control the pest. During recent years about 1,500-2,000 ha of planted forests, mainly at Yatir and Ma'ale Adummim, have been sprayed from the air each year. The efficacy of the aerial treatments depends on early detection of the infested plots, on the meteorological conditions during the first days after treatment, and on the Bt preparation. Currently, studies are being conducted in order to incorporate a new monitoring procedure based on the catch of adult male moths by sex pheromone traps.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Zvi Mendel

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
inundative/inoculative release

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni	Pine (Pinus)	Israel
	Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni	Pine (Pinus)	Lebanon
Bacillus thuringiensis (entomopathogen)	Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni		Israel