Use of pheromone traps against Tomicus piniperda and Tomicus minor in the Kazbegi National Park, Georgian Republic

Abstract

In the forested lands of Georgia Kazbegi National Park, some kinds of insects have been significantly harming the bark beetle of trees as their population increases. The most harmful species within the 100 ha area of the national park, where Pinus sylvestris L. var.hamata (Steven) (Scots Pine) trees settle have been identified as Tomicus piniperda (L.) and Tomicus minor (Hartig) using bio-technic method (pheromone traps), has been implemented against them. The damages of T. piniperda and T. minor were measured from all the Scots Pine in Kazbegi National Park in 2008. One of the newly developed control methods used in the field with intensive T. piniperda and T. minor populations is the bio-technic method. Prepared pheromone traps were hung up on trees located in various places and captured insects were counted and the results recorded in 2008. T. piniperdaand T. minor trapped in pheromone traps, hung from the pines of the Scots Pine outbreak area were significantly greater in study area (109.5±2.1 and 118.2±1.8 beetle/trap, both species respectively). Key words: Tomicus piniperda, Tomicus minor, pheromone trials, Kazbegi National Park, Georgia.