Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aerial spraying ofBacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki for the control ofThaumetopoea processionea in Turkey oak woods

  • Entomology
  • Published:
Phytoparasitica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thaumetopoea processionea L. is an important oak defoliator whose outbreaks have become increasingly frequent in Europe and thus have received a great deal of attention from foresters. Field trials were carried out in central Italy (Tuscany) to test the efficacy of aerial spraying ofBacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki [Btk] in early spring for the control of processionary infestations inQuercus cerris L. woods. The experimental sites were located in a hilly area of 1640 ha witha maximum altitude of 593 m a.s.l. and a yearly mean temperature of 10°C. Turkey oak woods were divided into three areas to be treated with 31.75 BIU ha−1 (2.5l ha−1) on 578 ha, 44.45 BIU ha−1 (3.5l ha−1) on 306 ha and 57.15 BIU ha−1 (4.5l ha−1) on 756 ha, respectively. Five days after treatment, larval mortality was less than 40% in the control plot, but over 60% in the treated areas. Thirteen days after treatment, larval mortality varied from 75.05% to 96.42% in the three treated areas. Surveys conducted 2 months after the treatment showed a strong decline in the number of oak processionary nests in all the treated plots. It was possible to control the pest effectively in turkey oak woods usingBtk at 31.75 BIU ha−1 distributed at ultra-low volume at the time of bud opening when nonurticating larvae were present.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Agenjo, R. (1941) Monografia de la familia Thaumetopoeidae (Leo.).EOS XVII:69–130.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Appel, H.M. and Schultz, J.C. (1994) Oak tannins reduce effectiveness of Thuricide (Bacillus thuringiensis) in the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae).J. Econ. Entomol. 87:1736–1742.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Barbey, A. (1913) Traité d’Entomologie Forestiére à l’Usage des Forestiers, des Reboiseurs et des Propriétaires de Bois. Berger-Levrault eds., Paris, France. pp. 390–394.

  4. Battisti, A., Longo, S., Tiberi, R. and Triggiani, O. (1998) Results and perspectives in the use ofBacillus thuringiensis Berl. var.kurstaki and other pathogens againstThaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. et Schiff.) in Italy (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae).Anz. Schädlkd. Pflanzenschutz Umweltschutz 71:72–76.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bauce, E., Bidon, Y. and Berthiaume, R. (2002) Effects of food nutritive quality andBacillus thuringiensis on feeding behaviour, food utilization and larval growth of spruce budwormChoristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) when exposed as fourth- and sixth-instar larvae.Agric. For. Entomol. 4:57–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bauce. E., Carisey. N., Dupont. A. and van Frankenhuyzen, K. (2004)Bacillus thuringiensis subsp.kurstaki aerial spray prescriptions for balsam fir stand protection against spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).J. Econ. Entomol. 97:1624–1634.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Biliotti, L.E. (1952) Difficultés rencontrées dans la determination des périodes d’intervention contre les processionaires du chêne et du pin.Rev. Pathol. Vég. Entomol. Agric. Fr. XXXI:115–120.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bin, F. and Tiberi, R. (1983) Notizie preliminari sui parassitoidi oofagi diThaumetopoea processionea L. in Italia centrale (Hym., Chalcidoidea; Lep., Thaumetopoeidae).Redia LXVI:449–459.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Bosma, A.H. and Jans, H.W.A. (1998) Ernstige anafylactsche reactie in samenhang met de bedstrijding van de eikenprocessierups (Thaumetopoea processionea) in Noord-Brabant.Ned. Tijdschr. Geneesk. 142:1567–1569.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Camerini, A., Caronni, F. and Roversi, P.F. (2002) Gradazioni di processionaria della quercia (Thaumetopoea processionea L.) in boschi planiziali: monitoraggio e controllo nel Parco Lombardo della Valle del Ticino.Atti XIX Congr. Naz. It. Entomol. (Catania, Italy), pp. 879–883.

  11. Carisey, N., Bauce, E., Dupont, A. and Miron, S. (2004) Effects of bud phenology and foliage chemistry of balsam fir and white spruce trees on the efficacy ofBacillus thuringiensis against the spruce budworm,Choristoneura fumiferana.Agric. For. Entomol. 6:55–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Cooke, B.J. and Régnière, J. (1999) Predictability and measurability ofBacillus thuringiensis efficacy against spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).Environ. Entomol. 28:711–721.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dissescu, G. (1971) Influence of stand structure on the population dynamics ofThaumetopoea processionea. Proc. 15 th IUFRO Congr. (Gainesville, FL, USA), Section 24.

  14. Flemming, G. (1997) Erste Erfahrungen bei der Bekämpfung des Eichenprozessionsspinners (Thaumetopoea processionea) im nordwestlichen Teil des Landes Brandenburg im Jahre 1996.Gesunde Pfl. 49:54–57.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Flemming, R.A. and van Frankenhuyzen, K. (1992) Forecasting the efficacy of operationalBacillus thuringiensis Berliner applications against spruce budworm,Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).Can. Entomol. 124:1101–1113.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Furth, D.G. and Halperin, J. (1979) Observations on the phenology and biogeography ofThaumetopoea jordana (Satudinger) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae).Isr. J. Entomol. 13:1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kouassi, K.C., Lorenzetti, F., Guertin, C., Cabana, J. and Mauffette, Y. (2001) Variation in the susceptibility of the forest tent caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) toBacillus thuringiensis varietykurstaki HD-1: effect of the host plant.J. Econ. Entomol. 94:1135–1141.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lamy, M., Novak, F., Duboscq, M.F., Ducombs, G. and Maleville, J. (1988) La chenille processionaire du chêne (Thaumetopoea processionea L.) et l’homme: appareil urticant et mode d’action.Ann. Dermatol. Venereol. 115:1023–1032.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lentini, A. and Luciano, P. (1995)Bacillus thuringiensis in the management of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) in Sardinian cork-oak forests.IOBC/WPRS Bull. 18(6):104–109.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Leong, K.L.H., Cano, R.J. and Kubinski, A.M. (1980) Factors affectingBacillus thuringiensis total field persistence.Environ. Entomol. 9:593–599.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lövgren, R. and Dalsved, B. (2005)Thaumetopoea processionea L. ekprocessionspinnaren, funnen i Sverige.Entomol. Tidskr. 126:93–94.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Luciano, P. and Lentini, A. (1999) Effects ofBacillus thuringiensis and defoliation by gypsy moth on lepidopterous fauna in cork-oak forests.IOBC/WPRS Bull. 22:115–119.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Luciano, P. and Roversi, P.F. (2001) Oak Defoliators in Italy. Industria Grafica Poddighe, Sassari, Italy. pp. 24–27.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Maksimov, J.C. (1978) Thaumetopoeidae, Prozessionsspinner.in: Schwenke, W. [Ed.] Die Forstschädlinge Europas. Verlag Paul Parey, Hamburg, Germany. vol. 3, pp. 391–404.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Martin, J.C. and Bonneau, X. (2006)Bacillus thuringiensis, 30 ans de lutte contre les chenilles defoliatrices en fôret.Phytoma 590:4–7.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Martin, J.C. and Mazet, R. (2001) Lutte hivernale contre la processionaire du pin. Possibilité d’utilisation duBacillus thuringiensis K.Phytoma 540:32–35.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Niccoli, A. and Tiberi, R. (1986) Osservazioni sulla biologia e sul comportamento delle larve diThaumetopoea processionea (L.) (Lepidoptera, Thaumetopoeidae).Redia LXIX:285–297.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Pascual, J.A. (1988) Biologia de la Procesionaria del roble (Thaumetopoea processionea L.) (Lep. Thaumetopoeidae) en el centro-oeste de la Peninsula Ibérica.Bol. San. Veg. Plagas 14:383–404.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Pascual, J.A., Robredo, F. and Galante, E. (1990) Tratamientos aéreos ULV con alfa-cipermetrina, diflubenzurón yBacillus thuringiensis contra la procesionaria del roble (Thaumetopoea processionea) (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae).Bol. San. Veg. Plagas 16:585–591.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Roversi, P.F. (2002) Dinamica di popolazione diThaumetopoea processionea L.: indicatori biologici ottenuti dalle ovature (Lepidoptera Thaumetopoeidae).Dif. Piante n.s. 15:185–195.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Roversi, P.F., Boretti, R., Merendi, G.A., Bartolozzi, L. and Toccafondi, P. (1997) Processionaria della quercia: danni e criteri di controllo.Sherwood 3(8):13–16.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Roversi, P.F., Rumine, P. and Barzanti, G.P. (2006) Efficacia di trattamenti aerei conBacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki per il controllo della processionaria della quercia e impatto sulla lepidotterofauna.Atti G. Fitopatol. 2006(I):211–216.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Shiga, M. (1979) Population dynamics ofMalacosoma neustria testacea (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae).Bull. Fruit Tree Res. Stn. Ser. A 6:59–168.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Smith, J.D. and Goyer, R.A. (1986) Population fluctuations and causes of mortality for the forest tent caterpillarMalacosoma disstria (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) on three different sites in southern Louisiana.Environ. Entomol. 15:1184–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  35. SPSS (1999) SPSS for Windows v. 10.0. SPS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Stigter, H., Geraedts, W.H.J.M. and Spijkers, H.C.P. (1996)Thaumetopoea processionea in the Netherlands: present status and management perspectives (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae).Proc. 8 th Meeting Section Exp. Appl. Entomol., Netherlands Entomol. Soc. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), pp. 3–16.

  37. Stigter, H. and Romeijn, G. ()Thaumetopoea processionea na ruim een eeuw weer plaatselijk in Nederland (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae).Entomol. Ber. 52(5):66–69.

  38. Tomiczek, C. and Krehan, H. (2003) Zunehmende Probleme mit dem Eichenprozessionsspinner in Ostösterreich.Forstschutz Aktuell, Wien 29:17–18.

    Google Scholar 

  39. van Frankenhuyzen, K. and Payne, N.J. (1993) Theoretical optimization ofBacillus thuringiensis Berliner for control of the eastern spruce budworm,Choristoneura fumiferana Clem. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): estimates of lethal and sublethal dose requirements, product potency, and effective droplet sizes.Can. Entomol. 125:473–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Wilson, G.R. and Benoit, T.G. (1993) Alkaline pH activatesBacillus thuringiensis spores.J. Invertebr. Pathol. 62:87–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Woods, S.A. and Elkinton, J.S. (1987) Bimodal patterns of mortality from nuclear polyhedrosis virus in gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) populations.J. Invertebr. Pathol. 50:151–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Wulf, A. and Pehl, L. (2005) Waldschutzsituation 2004 in der Bundesrepublik of Germany. Ubersicht und Ausblick fur 2005. [Forest health and forest protection 2004 in the Federal Republic of Germany. Summary and preview 2005.]Forst- Holzforsch. 60(4):145–149.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CRA - ABP, Agriculture Research Council, Centre for Agrobiological and Pedological Research, 50125, Florence, Italy

    P. F. Roversi

Authors
  1. P. F. Roversi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. F. Roversi.

Additional information

http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting March 12, 2008.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roversi, P.F. Aerial spraying ofBacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki for the control ofThaumetopoea processionea in Turkey oak woods. Phytoparasitica 36, 175–186 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02981330

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02981330

Key words

Search

Navigation