Shoot Moth Research Articles

The genome sequence of the bramble shoot moth, Notocelia uddmanniana (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Notocelia uddmanniana (the bramble shoot moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Tortricidae). The genome sequence is 794 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly, 99.96%, is scaffolded into 28 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled.

Приоритетные технологии в защите лесов от вредных организмов

Рассматриваются вопросы научного обеспечения системы мероприятий по защите лесов от вредных организмов, а также методы прогнозирования массовых размножений опасных для насаждений видов насекомых и угрозы повреждения насаждений. Приведены эффективные биологические агенты и технологии их массового производства и применения против ряда вредителей лесов, а также результаты испытаний новых препаратов для расширения ассортимента разрешенных к применению средств защиты лесов. The paper highlights development of environmental and economically efficient integrated forest protection operation packages including updated technologies of phytosanitary prevention, forest pathology monitoring and survey, suppression of widely spread and quarantine forest insect and disease outbreaks. Development of mass outbreak forecast procedures for hazardous insects and forest damage risks is based on longterm stationary studies, Pheromone application technology for population monitoring of 11 leaf and needle eating pest species, 9 coniferous stem pest species, as well as 3 shoot moth species has been developed and its population thresholds identified. Insect pheromone application to cut its population primarily systematic catch of population share in reservation areas has been recommended. New preparation trials to extend allowable applicable forest protection agent range are underway. Efficient biological agent search, its mass production and application technology development has been done. Pilot laboratory small scale production of forest protection virus biological agent against red pine sawfly has been established. Chouioia cunea entomoparasitoid mass rearing and application technology has been developed. Studies that ensure insect host rearing and 3 eggeater species cultivation and its applications in forest pest protection has been conducted. Small scale predator Thanasimus and Rhizophagus entomophage production and application technologies to prevent shaping of bark beetle and other stem pest mass outbreaks have been developed. Biology and damage rate of some hazardous invasive organisms have been studies and its detection and identification technologies developed. Studies to develop efficient protection operations against such new invaders in Russian forest communities.

Annual Variation in Starting Date of Spring Feeding by the European Pine Shoot Moth in a Michigan Planting

Annual Variation in Starting Date of Spring Feeding by the European Pine Shoot Moth in a Michigan Planting

Preparation of stereochemically pure E- and Z-alkenoic acids and their methyl esters from bicyclo[n.1.0]alkan-1-ols. Application in the synthesis of insect pheromones

Oxidative cleavage of exo- and endo-alkyl- and hydroxyalkyl-substituted bicyclo[n.1.0]alkan-1-ols with (diacetoxy-λ3-iodanyl)benzene gave the corresponding methyl alkenoates exclusively with E or Z configuration of the double bond. This reaction was used as the key stage in the syntheses of stereoisomerically pure components of pest insect pheromones: (E)-dodec-9-en-1-yl acetate (European pine shoot moth Rhyacionia buoliana), (Z)-tetradec-11-en-1-yl acetate (European oak leafroller Tortrix viridana), and (3E,8Z,11Z)-tetradeca-3,8,11-trien-1-yl acetate (tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta).

Pheromone identification of the cedar shoot moth Dichelia cedricola Diakonoff (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

SummaryThe cedar shoot moth, Dichelia cedricola Diakonoff, is considered as an important defoliator of the Lebanese cedars, Cedrus libani in Lebanon and Turkey. A recent outbreak revealed the need for a new tool to monitor the population within an integrated forest health management approach. To achieve this objective, a sex pheromone was identified by using solid phase microextraction (SPME) of calling female head space and female gland extracts, analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The biological activity of the identified components was assessed by field trapping in the Lebanese cedar forests. (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol were identified as the sex pheromone components of D. cedricola. The field studies showed that (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol (65:35) is an efficient formulation. The chemical composition is discussed in the view of biosystematics within Archipini tribe. These findings will contribute to the implementation of an integrated management program using the pheromone of D. cedricola and the assessment of the pest presence or absence in the cedar forest ecosystems of the Mediterranean regions.

Monitoring of damage from cedar shoot moth Dichelia cedricola Diakonoff (Lep.: Tortricidae) by multi-temporal Landsat imagery

Abstract: In this study defoliation damage in Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich) stands in Turkey (Isparta region) caused by cedar shoot moth (Dichelia cedricola Diakonoff - Lep.: Tortricidae) was examined using multi-temporal Landsat data. Undamaged, low-damaged and heavily-damaged areas were located by assessing the variation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index derived from satellite imagery. Threshold boundaries for different damage levels were defined using mean NDVI values obtained from sub-areas spanning over the whole range of NDVI values. The reliability of the classification based on damages was statistically tested by comparing mean annual ring widths measured on increment cores extracted from sample trees exposed to different damage levels. Significant differences were found in mean annual ring widths among different areas previously classified based on NDVI data. Mean annual ring width in 2001 (an outbreak year) was 1.64 mm for undamaged area, 1.04 mm for low-damaged area, and 0.54 mm for heavily-damaged area. These findings indicate that damage mapping and monitoring mass damage caused by insect defoliation in Taurus cedar stands can be performed remotely by using NDVI values and Landsat TM data.

Host testing, establishment and biology of the gorse soft shoot moth, Agonopterix umbellana (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), a potential biological control agent for gorse, Ulex europaeus L. (Fabaceae), in Australia

Host specificity tests on over 250 species or cultivars of plants including 37 Australian native and introduced plant species or cultivars showed that the gorse soft shoot moth, Agonopterix umbellana, would be unlikely to survive on any plant other than gorse in Australia. The first field release was at Jericho, Tasmania during spring 2007. By the summer of 2013 high larval densities of A. umbellana were evident at the release point, with dispersal recorded to a maximum of 200m over ca. 2ha. Recoveries at other release sites in Tasmania as well as in South Australia and Victoria suggest that the species will eventually establish across south-eastern Australia. The life cycle of A. umbellana is closely synchronised with gorse phenology. Population increase and dispersal is expected to be slow as a consequence of its univoltine life cycle incorporating the narrow larval feeding period of 3months when gorse is a suitable food source. At Jericho, oviposition commenced in late winter which enabled hatching to coincide with the presence of new gorse growth for developing larvae. Larvae fed over a 3month period on new growth available from mid-October to mid-January passing through six instars before pupation. The first adults were recorded in early February emerging in an obligate reproductive diapause which was completed by late July. Controlled temperature cabinets held at 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24°C were used to estimate lower development thresholds (LDT) and thermal constants. The LDT for eggs larvae, pupae and total development were 8.7, 7.5, 7.9 and 7.9°C, respectively and the thermal constants were 143.0°, 526.3°, 278.0° and 971.0° degree days respectively. In the long term, it is hoped that A. umbellana will contribute to the biological control of gorse in Australia. This will be in combination with the gorse seed weevil, Exapion ulicis, the gorse spider mite, Tetranychus lintearius and the gorse thrips, Sericothips staphylinus, even though earlier studies have shown these other agents are constrained either by predation in the case of T. lintearius or the effects of gorse phenology in the case of S. staphylinus and E. ulicis.

Improving the Efficiency of Lepidopteran Pest Detection and Surveillance: Constraints and Opportunities for Multiple-Species Trapping

Surveillance using attractants for invasive species can allow early detection of new incursions and provide decision support to response programs. Simultaneous trapping for multiple species, by baiting traps with several lures, is expected to increase the number of species that can be targeted in surveillance programs and improve the cost-effectiveness without affecting surveillance coverage. We tested this hypothesis by choosing four potential forest and urban lepidopteran pest species that are present in Europe but not yet in New Zealand and many other countries. We deployed traps in central and southern Europe with single lures or all possible species combinations (up to four lures per trap). There was only limited interference, apparently due to trap saturation, but no evidence for interspecific repellency among lures for gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea, pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, and pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana. To assess what factors may be important in species compatibility/suitability for multiple-species trapping, we combined our results with those of previous studies conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. For 75 combinations of pheromones, tested singly or in combination, 19% showed no effect on trap catch for any of the species tested. In the other cases, either one or both species showed a reduction in trap catch. However, few lure combinations caused complete or nearly complete suppression. For most combinations, catches were still sufficiently high for detection purposes. Species from the same superfamily exhibited more interference than more distantly related species. Together, these results suggest that there are opportunities to improve the range of exotic pests under surveillance, at little additional cost, by multiple-species trapping for which compatibility has been demonstrated.

Growth loss of Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani) stands as related to periodic outbreaks of the cedar shoot moth (Dichelia cedricola)

An outbreak ofDichelia cedricola (Diakonoff) (Lep.: Tortricidae), the cedar shoot moth (CSM), began in spring 1998 and lasted 3 years. This was the first monitored outbreak of the CSM in Isparta, Turkey. Tree crowns recovered to near normal condition by the middle of each growing season (in early June) during the outbreak. Tree volume and volume element increments were examined throughout the outbreak cycle from 1954 to 2001. In the past, CSM activity in stands of Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) was assessed through radial increment analyses. Cedar tree ring chronologies were analyzed for evidence of the CSM. Tree-ring chronologies from nonhost cedar (nondefoliated sample trees) were used to estimate potential growth in the host cedar (defoliated sample trees) during current and past outbreaks; all trees selected were the same subspecies and varieties. Regional outbreaks of the CSM were identified by synchronous and sustained growth periods of the trees. In 2001, increment cores were collected from 17 host and 16 nonhost dominant or codominant trees and annual radial growth indices from 1954–2001 were calculated for each of two host and two nonhost sample plots. Growth functions were defined as the cumulative sum of radial, height, and volume increment, and were graphically compared between CSM host cedar and nonhost cedar trees. Tree ring evidence suggests that a large-scale outbreak occurred in 1955 (from 1955 to 1966) and a small outbreak occurred in 1985 (1985–1990) and in 1998 (1998-continued) in the study area. The average diameter growth reductions around 1955, 1985 and 1998 were 40%, 46% and 7% of potential, respectively. It was concluded that a narrow latewood band is significant indicator of defoliation by the CSM and the outbreaks appear to be associated with dry winter and spring weather prior to the autumn and winter in which wood feeding occurred.

Life‐cycle characteristics of Tetrastichus turionum, a parasitoid of the European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana

Abstract: The life cycle of Tetrastichus turionum, a pupal endoparasitoid of the European pine shoot moth Rhyacionia buoliana, was studied in Spain in the field, prior to its use as a potential biological control agent of this pest in Chile. T. turionum showed two generations acting on the same host generation. Adults from the overwintering generation emerged and dispersed from mid‐ to late spring and gave rise to a fast developing, current year generation. Adults of this generation emerged and oviposited in early to mid‐summer, producing progeny that overwintered as fourth instar larvae inside their host. Both generations appeared highly synchronized to the presence of pupae in the host population. The role of decreasing day length in the induction of diapause is also discussed. Laboratory bioassays showed that T. turionum did not oviposit on R. buoliana larvae already parasitized by Orgilus obscurator, a major larval parasitoid, already introduced in Chile. The results reinforce the suitability of T. turionum as a promising parasitoid that would complement O. obscurator in the biological control of European pine shoot moth.

Effect of Attract and Kill Formulations and Application Rates on Trap Catches of European Pine Shoot Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and Shoot Damage in Scots Pine Saplings

Attract and kill technology was tested for management of European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana (Denis & Schiffermüller), in 4-6-yr-old Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L., plantations managed by Jablonna and Pultusk Forest Districts, Poland. In 2001, two formulations based on ricinoleic acid and hydrocarbon fraction (petroleum jelly) in combination with (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate, the sex pheromone of the pine shoot moth; permethrin as a contact insecticide; and Tinuvin UV absorber were used. In 2002, different formulations and application rates of the attracticide based on petroleum jelly were tested. Significantly reduced trap catches occurred in plots treated with three attracticide formulations [Rhykil-1 (with Tinuvin UV absorber), Rhykil-2 (with a new UV absorber, 3,3'-dihydroxy-2,2'-bipyridyl), and Rhykil-3 (without the insecticide)] at 3,000 droplets per hectare in comparison with those in control plots, suggesting that all formulations were highly effective. Significantly lower catches than in control plots also were observed when Rhykil-1 was applied at 1000, 2,000, and 3,000 droplets per hectare. However, only slight reduction of shoot damage in treated plots was observed in both experiments. The formulation without the insecticide had similar efficacy to that of the formulation combined with the insecticide. In 2003, the Rhykil-2 attracticide was tested at 250, 500, and 1000 droplets per hectare. Although there were no significant differences in trap catches between treated and control plots, shoot damage level was reduced substantially in all treated plots. These results suggest that attract and kill technology may be used at rates lower than 1000 droplets per hectare for management of R. buoliana; however, its "kill" effect should be confirmed in further studies.

Biological studies on two neotropical egg parasitoid species: Trichogramma nerudai and Trichogramma sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The main biological attributes of two Neotropical egg parasitoids, the arrhenotokous Trichogramma nerudai and the thelytokous Trichogramma sp., were assessed under controlled laboratory conditions. Developmental time from egg to adult, and parasitoid survival, fecundity and fertility were studied using life tables. Results showed that T. nerudai had a faster developmental time than Trichogramma sp. (13.014±0.4019 and 13.595±0.4931 days, respectively). Both species showed similar life table statistics, r m was 0.222 and 0.225 for T. nerudai and Trichogramma sp., respectively. Parasitoid survival averaged 95% for both species. The results obtained are discussed in the context of selecting one of these natural enemies as a potential biological control agent for the European pine shoot moth Rhyacionia buoliana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in pine forests and the codling moth Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple orchards in Argentina.

Association of Sphaeropsis sapinea with insect‐damaged red pine shoots and cones

SummaryThe association of the shoot blight and canker pathogen Sphaeropsis sapinea with red pine (Pinus resinosa) shoots and cones damaged by insects (especially Dioryctria sp.) was investigated. Samples from a single plantation approximately 35 years old, in Sauk Co., Wisconsin and also from three plantations, between approximately 40 and 50 years old, located in an area of pine shoot moth activity in the preceding year in Adams Co., Wisconsin were visually examined. Samples were arbitrarily collected from trees felled in the first plantation in May. Pycnidia of S. sapinea and insect damage were observed on 56 of 91 (62%) of closed cones and 17 of 165 (7%) of previous year's shoots. In the absence of insect damage, pycnidia of the pathogen were identified only on eight of 91 (9%) closed cones and never on previous year's shoots. In each of the other three plantations, 10 trees were located at intervals along transects in mid‐June; one branch from the lower half of the crown per tree was pruned off, and both current and previous year's shoots were examined. Insect damage and S. sapinea pycnidia were too rare on current year's shoots to draw any conclusions. Insect damage occurred on 20–40% of over 2000 previous year's shoots that were examined, but pycnidia of the pathogen were identified on only about 5%. Although infrequent, S. sapinea was identified in association with insect‐damaged previous year's shoots from these three plantations three times more frequently than those without insect damage. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers from eight randomly selected isolates were consistent with the A group of S. sapinea, which can be aggressive on red pine. This ability to exploit insect‐damaged shoots may facilitate long‐term persistence of S. sapinea at low disease incidence and severity. The potential role of insect wounds as infection courts and insects as vectors of this important pathogen of pines deserves further study.

Multispecies trapping of six pests of scots pine in Sweden and Poland

Abstract: Multispecies sex pheromone trapping (trapping of more than one species in the same trap) for the pine shoot moth Rhyacionia buoliana, the pine moth, Dendrolimus pini, the nun moth, Lymantria monacha, the pine beauty moth, Panolis flammea and the pine sawflies Diprion pini and Neodiprion sertifer was evaluated. The catch from traps baited with the pheromone of a single species was compared with the catch from traps baited with pheromones for several species. The catch in the multispecies traps was significantly reduced in comparison with the single species traps for Dendrolimus pini, L. monacha and N. sertifer. Neodiprion sertifer was most likely inhibited by the Diprion pini pheromone. A follow-up study of Dendrolimus pini and L. monacha showed no pheromonal interference between them. Further studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility of multispecies monitoring. However, for practical applications a slight decrease in catch, due to pheromonal interference, could probably be tolerated as long as the catch reflects total population density.

The use ofBacillus thuringiensis on Forest Integrated Pest Management

Bacillus thuringiensis is a major microbial insecticide and a source of genes encoding several proteins toxic to insects. In this paper the authors give a brief summary ofBacillus thuringiensis used on the integrated pest management in forestry. The derivatives of Bt strain HD1 subspkurstaki have been widely used to control the forest pests such as the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa), the European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana) and the nun moth (Lymantria monacha). Some progresses of transferring and expressing Bt toxin gene in forest trees are offered with a discussion on the limits and future prospects of using Bt products in forestry.

Dynamics of trophical niches of the winter pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana schiff., Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and response of the protective system of the scots pine to the affection

From the position of trophical niche concept, the process of forming of an infestation spot of the winter pine shoot moth in a space of a pine stand as well as the process of degradation of this spot was studied. It was shown that the process begins with the emergance of separate microspots in a stand. With increasing age of the affected stand, the area of these microspots grows, and they unite themselves in lager ones together with growing pest density. The process of growth of both the area and the density continues to an age of 15 years of the pine stands. After that, the reverse process of degradation begins when the area and density decreases. On all the stages of the process, a distribution of density of the pest attacks on trees has contagious character, and stabilisation of an affected ecosystem is finished at the age of 20–30 years.

Dynamics of trophical niches of the winter pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana schiff., Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and response of the protective system of the scots pine to the affection

It was stated that increasing affection of pine trees by the winter pine shoot moth induces immune response of the protective system of the trees. It manifests itself in the growth of essential oil concentration. This process is characterized by a synusoid curve where the period of restoration system of the pine equals 4–5 years and have the direct and reverse feed‐back in the group of trees that does not respond to changing of the protective system of pest affection.

Cascade form of process at arising of an aggressive biotype of the winter pine shoot moth(Rhyacionia buolianaschiff., Lepid. Tortr.)

Creation of the big trophical niches of the winter pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana Schiff.) on susceptible trees of Pinus silvestris L. provoked the mass outbreak of the pest in the south areas in Ukraine. In its turn, high density of the pest induced processes of the aggressivity's growth of population. In so doing the wide range of adaptive zones represented by groups of the pines with different resistance is favourable for formation of aggressive biotypes. The spreading of the pest from weakened to more resistant groups on the pines is similar to the process of “drift”. This problem will be considered more detaily in the second part of this article.

Cascade form of process at arising of an aggressive biotype of the winter pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buolianaschiff.)

It has been considered the forming process of an aggressive biotype in the winter pine shoot moth. It consists of a number of consecutive in time the mechanisms and types of natural selection. The process is conditioned by existance in this region two species of pines (Pinus silvestris L. and Pinus pallasiana Lamb.) that have different level of resistance and are characterized by wide range of variability. The initial cause of the formative process was high density of the winter pine shoot moth in the stands of P. silvestris L. It stimulated growth of the aggressiveness and formation of initial aggressive group in the pest population. This group was initial one for gradual adaptation on P. silvestris L. and then on susceptible trees of P. pallasiana. The aggressive group which had been developing had a distinction by flight period in comparison with the normal population. This change served as a cause of its reproductive isolation from the normal population and led to the process of divergence. In so doing, the stabilized, directioned and disruptive types of natural selection acted step by step on different stages on the formative process.

Fluctuaciones poblacionales de Rhyacionia buoliana (Lep.: Tortricidae) en una plantación de Pinus radiata en la X Región

Population density of the European pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana (Schiff), on Pinus radiata D. Don plantations, established in 1986 in two different sites are analyzed, monitoring permanent plots during six years. Survival and mortality of the moth were also determined. Changes in density reveal annual increments and significant differences between sites. The influence of denso­ independent factors and the absence of natural enemies as regulators of the population leves are discussed. The survival increase trough time is interpreted as a consequence of the good adaptation of the species to different site conditions. The highest mortality rate occurred during the exposed periods of the moth's life cycle and principally at the early larvae stage mostly due to dehydration, resination and predation.