FAIR-CT95-0339 Pine sawfly pheromones for sustainable management of European forests

Contacts




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Biotechnology : FAIR Area 4.5 - Multifunctional Management of Forests : Forestry : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control

	Proposal No:	FAIR-CT95-0339
	Date Prepared:	January 1998
	Source:	Proposal Abstract

Abstract:
Different species of pines constitute an important part of the European forests. Several insect species have specialised on pines and cause severe economical losses. One such group is the members of the sawfly family Diprionidae, conifer or pine sawflies. Their larvae feed on the needles, which results in reduced growth and in some cases death of trees. Monitoring is today performed by egg or cocoon sampling. The counter measures undertaken today involve mainly the application of chemical insecticides. In recent years this has covered hundred thousands of hectares in the countries involved in the project.

The project aims to improve the identification, monitoring and control methods of pine sawflies populations which can cause severe damage to forests. This will involve improving the present knowledge about pheromone communication in economically important diprionid sawflies, especially Neodiprion sertifer, Diprion pini, Diprion similis, Gilpinia frutetorum, Microdiprion pallipes and Macrodiprion nemoralis.

The project will investigate the chemical communication system of the insects by pheromones. It will identify the sex pheromones, develop methods for early detection of the risk of outbreaks and develop environmentally friendly methods for managing outbreak population levels. This will be done by combining laboratory work with monitoring of and experiments in naturally occurring outbreaks in Europe.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Brant ANDER / Lunds University Dept of Ecology / SWEDEN