Objective:
The aim is to monitor the population densities of the lepidopteran defoliator Lymantria dispar in Sardinian oak woodlands. This is done through egg mass counts with the aim of predicting the areas at risk of defoliation and plan insecticide applications accordingly.
Context:
Cork oak woodlands in Sardinia are subjected to periodic infestations by lepidopteran defoliators, in particular Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth), whose attacks determine a reduction in plant vigour and cork, wood and acorn production. Monitoring allows to predict the areas at risk of defoliation, as well as to study population dynamics of the defoliator. The population density of the defoliator is estimated by counting the egg masses in more than 680 permanent monitoring sites distributed throughout the regional territory (Di.Bo.Med Network).
Contacts:
Giovanni Monaci, gmonaci@regione.sardegna.it http://www.sardegnaambiente.it/corpoforestale/
Giovanna Lampreu, glampreu@regione.sardegna.ithttp://www.sardegnaambiente.it/corpoforestale/
Roberto Mannu, rmannu@uniss.ithttps://agrariaweb.uniss.it/it
Further information:
Lentini A, Mannu R, Cocco A, Ruiu PA, Cerboneschi A, Luciano P (2019) Long-term monitoring and microbiological control programs against lepidopteran defoliators in the cork oak forests of Sardinia (Italy). Annals of Silvicultural Research (under publication).