Forest Pest Management Research Articles

Lethal and sublethal effects of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki on aquatic insects in laboratory bioassays and outdoor stream channels.

The microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis is generally considered to be more environmentally acceptable than many broad-spectrum chemical insecticides (Laird et al. 1990), and Bacillus thuringinesis var. kurstaki (Btk) is now widely used in forest management for controlling defoliating insects (van Frankenhuyzen 1990). Broadscale applications of Btk to forested areas may result in contamination of watercourses, and may pose some hazard to aquatic organisms. Although the impact of B. thuringiensis var. israelensis (a dipteran-active serotype used for biting-fly control) on non-target aquatic fauna has been extensively investigated (e.g., Merritt et al. 1989), few published studies have reported the effects of Btk (the variety used in forest pest management) on aquatic invertebrates. Previous risk assessments of Btk to aquatic invertebrates have been largely based on static bioassays (Eidt 1985) and unpublished data from field investigations (Surgeoner and Farkas 1989). Our objective was to improve the risk assessment for stream insects exposed to Btk by providing further toxicity data for an array of insect taxa under more natural exposure regimes and environmental conditions. We conducted experiments to measure the acute lethal response of aquatic insects to Btk (Dipel 8AF) in recirculating laboratory bioassays, and to determine lethal and behavioural (drift) effects of Btk on aquatic insects in outdoor stream channels. MATERIALS AND METHODS Test organisms were collected from streams with an electroshocker and acclimated at the test sites for 24 hr before the treatments. No attempt was made to determine specific stages of development for the specimens, but most (except Taeniopteryx nivalis and some groups of Lepidostoma sp.) were in late or final instar. Btk was applied as formulated product (Dipel 8AF, Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL) at a maximum concentration of 600 IU/mL. As a means send reprint requests to D.P. Kreutzweiser at above address

Electron microscopy of Malacosoma disstria (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) nuclear polyhedrosis virus in hemocyte cultures

The forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria, is a significant pest of hardwoods in Canada and the United States. Periodic heavy outbreaks of this insect cause appreciable losses in tree growth and fiber production in aspen stands and reductions in the yield of maple syrup and syrup products. Furthermore, large numbers of migrating larvae can have adverse effect on tourism and recreation. The Forest Pest Management Institute is trying to develop biorational control agents for this pest. A nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of this insect has shown promise as an insecticide, and has been successfully used in field trials. At present the virus can be produced only in the host larvae. However, continuous cell lines, IPRI-MD-66 and IPRI-MD-108, have been established from the hemocytes of this insect to develop an alternative method of virus production.

Forest visual resources and pest management: potential applications of visualization technology

Visualization technology allows us to picture, model and project over several years the effects of pest outbreaks and management activities on visual resources. The capability to visualize different potential future forest conditions can help resource managers plan projects, envision long-term ramifications, and interact with the public, and can facilitate research on human perception and recreational behavior.

Recent Advances in Forest Pest Management: Unity in diversity

Recent Advances in Forest Pest Management: Unity in diversity

Risk assessment and forest pest management

Prediction of potential harm, or risk assessment, is essential to planning for any vegetation management method, but the concepts and process are often not understood. This discussion is a highly simplistic description of the basic elements of toxicology and estimation of risk in excess of the high normal background. All chemical risk is directly related to the dose acquired by the subject or population. In the case of cancer, added human risk that may be associated with very low doses is expressed as a probability that is estimated by extrapolation from observations at high dose rates. Reasons for such an indirect approach and weaknesses of the present process are described.

Natural enemies and forest pest management

Forest insect pest management differs from pest management in other renewable-resource industries because of the relative complexity and stability of the forest environment. An important component of this complexity is the rich fauna of natural enemies attacking most forest insect pests. Understanding the relationship between forest insect pests and their natural enemies would permit better insight into the dynamics of pest populations.The active release of natural enemies in inoculative or inundative release strategies is a direct application of biological control to pest management. The conservation of resident natural enemies is an indirect biological control method with great potential. Knowledge of the ecology of natural enemies can be used to modify other forest practices such as reforestation and insecticide use to conserve or enhance the action of natural enemies.

Future trends in forest pest management

Future trends in forest pest management

Forest pest management sociopolitics

Successful forest pest managers must integrate complex technical considerations with important social and political concerns. Forest managers well trained in silviculture or entomology may be prepared for the biological challenges, but they may not be prepared for the sociopolitics. Sociopolitics influences all aspects of forest pest management. Because decisions are based on incomplete information, the outcome of projects has implications for its participants, judgements by agencies, scientists and technicians can be as biased as are those of politicians and interest groups. This paper discusses how sociopolitics influence forest pest management.

U.S. government policy and integrated pest management

The pursuit of integrated pest management (IPM) for forest protection followed the success of IPM in agriculture. Government policymakers, supported by forest pest management scientists and practitioners, directed that IPM be used to protect forests from the effects of insects and disease. Unfortunately, transferring the concept of IPM from agriculture to forestry has been more difficult than expected. IPM research-and-development program leaders need to review the reasons for these difficulties, establish realistic objectives (which should include the development of pest management tactics for integrated forest-resource management), and concentrate on producing IPM strategies that solve forest protection problems.

Ecology and Management of Forest Pests

Ecology and Management of Forest Pests

Ecology and Management of Forest Pests

Ecology and Management of Forest Pests

E-MYRCENOL: A NEW PHEROMONE FOR THE PINE ENGRAVER, IPS PINI (SAY) (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE)

AbstractE-Myrcenol reduced catches of the pine engraver, Ips pini (Say), to ipsdienol-baited, multiple-funnel traps in a dose-dependent fashion. The sex ratio was unaffected by E-myrcenol treatments. Lures containing E-myrcenol in ethanol solution failed to protect freshly cut logs of lodgepole pine from attack by I. pini. Rather, I. pini preferentially attacked logs treated with devices releasing E-myrcenol and ethanol, over nontreated, control logs. Our results demonstrate that E-myrcenol is a new pheromone for I. pini, and emphasize the importance of understanding basic pheromone biology before utilisation of a semiochemical in forest pest management.

Discriminant Models for Predicting Risk of Blueberry Maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae) Infestations in Southeastern North Carolina

Endemic infestations of the blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax Curran, are sparsely distributed in North Carolina because not all blueberry ( Vaccinium spp.) fields, or even areas within one field, support these populations. Physical site characteristics of cultivated high bush blueberry fields associated with the presence or absence of blueberry maggot infestations were measured, and discriminant analysis was used to classify the sites. A quadratic discriminant function using four variables (bush height, percentage of shade, percentage of soil organic matter, and percentage of sand) provided the best discrimination. A two-variable function using only bush height and percentage of shade proved more economical to use and a chart was developed that allows field determination of the probability of an infestation by blueberry maggots. This method predicted infestation with 100% accuracy on a validation data set. These data represent the first successful application of this forest pest and fire management strategy to a horticultural crop. Because the variables associated with infestation all directly affect the character and temperature dynamics of soils, we believe that desiccation of the puparia in the soil limits maggot distribution in North Carolina. Thus, altering the crop environment through irrigation may increase the likelihood of an infestation.

Sirex noctiliocontrol program in response to the 1987 Green Triangle outbreak

Summary In 1987, 1.8 million tree deaths resulted from a Sirex noctilio outbreak in Pinus radiata plantations in southeastern South Australia and southwestern Victoria. The major response was to inoculate 147 000 trees with the parasitic nematode Deladenus siricidicola. Also, projects to salvage sirex-infested trees and to release the parasitoid Megarhyssa nortoni were implemented. The inoculation program cost $1.3 million. Productivity and costs were calculated for the seven procedures used to introduce the nematode. Efficiency was increased by using machines to fell and delimb the trees and by redesigning the inoculation hammer. Knowledge gained from this outbreak should prompt a review of the control recommendations. Forest managers should implement a rigorous control program, as soon as sirex is detected in a region, to minimise the risk of a future outbreak. Key words: Sirex noctilio, Deladenus siricidicola, biological control, forest pest management, Pinus radiata.

Forestry Research Advisory Council of Canada Annual Report for 1988

This report covers the 1988 calendar year. During the year, the Forestry Research Advisory Council of Canada focussed on several issues, but three stand out.Firstly, it became clear to the Council that there is an emerging consensus about the importance of forestry research in Canada and the need to involve industry more in the planning and executing of research as increasing demands are made on the resource and environmental concerns grow.Secondly, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers convened a national forestry forum in Edmonton entitled "Innovation and Technology: Science in the Forestry Sector." Its 13 recommendations, endorsed by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, will be carefully studied by all forestry research organizations in Canada.Finally, representatives of the provincial and territorial forestry research advisory groups completed a plan for the preparation of a national overview and synthesis of forest research priorities and views in 1989.Council wishes to make the following recommendations to Forestry Canada:1. Forestry Canada should continue to provide a very brief annual, year-end communication to FRACC, providing in point form, information on actions taken on FRACC recommendations made at the close of the previous year.2. Considering the broadly based support for the action plan stemming from the 1988 national forestry research forum in Edmonton, Forestry Canada must ensure that the recommendations are implemented in the Forestry Canada program.3. Forestry Canada should encourage and strengthen forest resources oriented activities of the Forest Sector Advisory Council and by using research advisory structures increase that Council's understanding of the importance of forest resources research.4. Forestry Canada should ensure that in negotiating the next generation of forestry agreements, due attention is paid to planning and executing the very important research components so that they are clearly recognized and planned and managed to ensure the information produced is readily available across the country.5. Forestry Canada should intensify its efforts to disseminate research findings from all sources through joint sponsorship of seminars and workshops.6. Council recommends that Forestry Canada continue to seek innovative means to foster an enhanced and sustained input to forest management research by the forest-based industry.7. Forestry Canada should encourage the use of industry "assistance in kind" by working with Revenue Canada to ensure that industry participants in such programs are fully eligible for favourable tax treatment for such research.8. Forestry Canada should try to mitigate the potential negative effects of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and its regulations on forest research.9. Forestry Canada must continue to press the federal Treasury Board for a significant upward adjustment in its base funding for the operation of its research program. Funding from Forest Resource Development Agreements should be considered incremental to the base funding of the Forestry Canada program.10. Council agrees with the general tenor and thrust of the recently approved Forest Insect and Disease Survey Strategic Plan that provides for a shift away from routine surveys to research, but recommends that Forestry Canada maintain and enhance its leadership in conducting workshops and technology transfer seminars on specific pest problems.11. Forestry Canada should expedite completion of its planning document for biotechnology research. Forestry Canada must be able to collaborate actively in this important research area.12. Forestry Canada should complete and widely distribute its strategic plan for spruce budworm research as soon as possible.13. Forestry Canada should make greater use of economics criteria in research evaluation and planning, and developing improved methods for analysing forest land management options.In 1989, Council will organize its work under three headings. Concerning research and development, the essential part of its mandate, Council will 1. focus on a review of current Forestry Canada programs; 2. continue to investigate means for increasing industry's involvement in research; 3. study and recommend how the research inventory work initiated by Dr. Kayll can be used and regularly updated; 4. continue to study Forestry Canada operating and maintenance funding and make recommendations as appropriate.On policy and planning, Council will 1. review and advise Forestry Canada on the CCFM research forum implementation report; 2. review and comment on future plans for Forestry Canada regarding organization, legislation, facilities, research program and the research planning process.Regarding the research advisory process, Council will 1. establish closer communications with the Forest Sector Advisory Council and other national advisory groups, including those for the Petawawa National Forestry Institute and the Forest Pest Management Institute of Forestry Canada, the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada, Forintek and the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada; 2. continue to work with the provincial and territorial forest research advisory bodies to provide a national overview of priorities and viewpoints for the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers.

Decision Support Systems for the Forest Insect and Disease Survey and for Pest Management

Effective forest pest management involves decision-making supported by useful information. The concept of Decision Support Systems is being actively pursued by the Forest Insect and Disease Survey (FIDS) of the Canadian Forestry Service to meet its information needs for analysis of forest pest conditions. The FIDSINFOBASE system was developed to provide FIDS units nationwide access to survey data. Geographic Information System capabilities are being integrated for capture and analysis of infestation maps. Possibilities exist for the integration of systems, data, and models among agencies for information standardization and exchange. Key words: information systems, forest pest management, insect and disease surveys.

Letters to Editor

Journal Article Letters to Editor Get access CHARLES G. SHAW, III, CHARLES G. SHAW, III Research Plant Pathologist and Project Leader Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar DONALD J. GOHEEN, DONALD J. GOHEEN Plant Pathologist, Forest Pest Management Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar PAUL F. HESSBURG PAUL F. HESSBURG Plant Pathologist, Forest Pest Management Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, Volume 61, Issue 4, 1988, Pages 369–371, https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/61.4.369 Published: 01 January 1988

Forest Pest Management and Training from an Industrial Perspective

Industrial forest pest management in Canada is a relatively new phenomenon and not yet well integrated into forest management regimes. However, pest management has gained a higher profile within the forest industry over the last decade and some companies are now routinely incorporating pest management principles and training into their forestry programs.

Pest Management Education for Forest Technologists in British Columbia

The author describes the changing nature of forest pest management training given in British Columbia over the last 30 years. Four eras of differing training are identified, each determined in part by the needs of the time. The eras are identified as the Ologist, the Operator, the Operologist, and the Managoperologist. A case is made to retain training of different natures for professional foresters and technologists, based on differing job performance expectations. Course content of programs is outlined. It is recommended that performance, not time, be used to measure competence. Outside experts are encouraged to contribute to the training programs. Seminars are examined as a supportive teaching aid.

Preparing the Forester for Pest Management — A View from Provincial Government

Development of forest pest management capability within the BC Forest Service is outlined. Appropriate specialized professional training of staff is emphasized. The ability to manage provincial forests must be based on a blend of inputs from forestry generalists and specialists. Greater awareness of the need for pest management and solution of our weaknesses in pest management training depend largely on more emphasis being given to it in our academic establishments. Recommendtions are made.