Abstract
Several products are widely used to control gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) populations. The main purpose of the present study is to evaluate the aerial application effects of B. thuringiensis and diflubenzuron on non-target arthropods in a Mediterranean holm-oak forest. The density of gypsy moth population at the time of application of treatments was the same in the three forests and the defoliation levels in the three holm-oak forests were between level 0 (no apparent defoliation) and level 1 (small defoliations of new leaf). Sampling litter, soil, ground-dwelling, and epiphytic arthropods showed that the holm-oak forests treated with diflubenzuron had a better quantitative faunal outcome than the Control, whereas the highest taxonomic diversity was found in the site treated with B. thuringiensis. These results could probably be explained by a temporary competitive decrease due to the huge number of gypsy moth caterpillars on plants, as well as the enormous accumulation of their excrements in the soil during a prolonged period of time.
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