Insects Associated with Reforestation and Their Management in Poland

Abstract

Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are the most important pest insects of forest plantations established on clear-cut areas, and Hylobius abietis is a pest insect of great economic importance in Europe. Pinus sylvestris plantations and thickets established on sandy soils or postfire areas can be severely impacted by Cneorhinus plagiatus and Brachyderes incanus. Young pine forests weakened by biotic and abiotic factors are particularly susceptible to Pissodes castaneus. Buds and shoots of P. sylvestris trees are mainly damaged by Lepidoptera larvae. For many years, chemical treatments have been the main way of protecting forests against insects. At present, to reduce the pollution of forest environments with insecticides, the strategy of integrated pest management (IPM) was put into practice. It involves prophylactic measures to increase plant resistance to insect attacks and to select appropriate control methods based on a multistep decision support system (DSS). Nonchemical control measures aim at collecting pest insects in traps fitted with attractants and biological methods, mainly based on entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and wood-decomposing fungi. Chemical insecticides are used only in cases of high threats to reforestation stands. This paper presents the state of knowledge concerning pest insect management in forest plantations in Europe, with particular emphasis on insects occurring in Poland.

Evaluation of attractants and traps for monitoring small banded pine weevil Pissodes castaneus

“…In 1986, Tilles et al () described the effect of the monoterpenes emanated by coniferous trees in attracting H. abietis . These compounds, combined with the synergistic action of ethanol, became the basis for the development of attractants for use in monitoring the number of H. abietis beetles that can cause economic damage to forest crops in Europe (Moore, ; Nordlander, ; Skrzecz, ; Wilson & Day, ; Zumr & Stary, ). Further studies confirmed that ethanol and α‐pinene function as attractants for many species of beetles, not only from the family Curculionidae, which includes many species of beetle that are damaging to reforestations, but also many species of bark and wood‐boring insects in the Cerambycidae and Buprestidae families (Miller et al, ).…”

“…In 2001, it was introduced to South America, where it was initially described in Brazil; then, in 2003, it was identified in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile (Iede et al, ; Pereyra et al, ). In Poland, P. castaneus is increasingly found in pine reforestations and thickets (Skrzecz, ). In the years 2000–2017, its area of occurrence ranged from 3,000 to 10,000 ha per year (Milewski, ).…”

“…There is limited information in the literature on the prevention of damage caused by small banded pine weevil in young stands. The methods for the population reduction of this pest are based mainly on finding and removing the colonized trees from forests (Skrzecz, ). When there was a mass occurrence of weevils in Poland (from 1980–90), the protection of reforestations and young trees was achieved by the use of chemical treatments, mainly pyrethroids (Prokocka, Skrzecz, Sowińska, Wolski, & Janiszewski, ).…”

Pine Pitch Canker and Insects: Regional Risks, Environmental Regulation, and Practical Management Options

“…In the Mediterranean zone, special attention should be given to Pissodes castaneus (De Geer, 1775) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a thermophilous pine weevil which feeds on the inner bark and cambium of several pine species. Although, in general, European pine weevil species are generally considered secondary pests [56], this species is known to have a significant economic impact by causing mortality in regenerating stands and young (4-15-years-old) trees [57][58][59]. It can also be found on older trees and even in pine stumps [60,61].…”

“…Pine weevils are attracted by the smell of the fresh bark and are poisoned. However, the method requires a lot of work and it is only widely used in Eastern Europe [59,260].…”