The Use of a Virus Disease in the Biological Control of the European Pine Sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffr.)

Abstract

The European pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffr.), is a serious defoliator of pine in many parts of Europe and Asia. Infestations of this insect have been controlled by weather, and frequently high percentages are destroyed by parasitic and predacinus insects, by small mammals, and by birds. Infectious diseases are most frequently reported as having controlled outbreaks, namely: virus disease (4, 5), bacterial disease (12). fungus disease (8), bacterial and fungus diseases (7, 11), a disease not diagnosed (9).

Microbial insecticides in forestry

“…European pine sawfly NPV was discovered in 1949 (Bird 1953) and extensively used in the 1950s and 1960s to control this major pest of ornamentals and Christmas tree plantations. This insect is currently only a minor pest due Between 1975 and1990,4 plantations with a combined area of 160 ha were treated experimentally.…”

“…A highly effective virus was found for control of European pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer (Bird 1953) and this virus has been used in 12 countries (Cunningham and Entwistle 1981 (Heimpel and Angus 1959;Angus 1964). B.t.…”

The ecology of even-aged forest plantations

“…Control has been achieved here and elsewhere (e.g. Bird 1953) by introducing a virus disease which brings about a population collapse, accelerating the natural decline in numbers 'Alich occurs after a few years of high density.…”

Multiplication massive des virus d'insectes pendant la mue nymphale

“…Certains essais rdeents ont montrd qu'il est possible de rdaliser des traitements ~ base de eorps d'inelusion de virus, m~me sur une grande dehelle [1,2].Les traitements importants posent avant tout le probl~me de la production massive du virus spdeifique. /k l'heure aetuelle, l'infeetion par vole bueeale, des ehenilles en dlevage, avee poly~dres intranueldaires ou cytoplasmiques ou avee granules, suivie de la rdeolte des chenilles malades eonstitue la teehnique gdndralement employde [1,3].…”

“…Certains essais rdeents ont montrd qu'il est possible de rdaliser des traitements ~ base de eorps d'inelusion de virus, m~me sur une grande dehelle [1,2].…”