First report of Dendrolimus pini in the United Kingdom
The NPPO of the United Kingdom recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first finding of Dendrolimus pini (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) on its territory. Following reports (2007) of trapping of adult males by amateur moth recorders in 2004 (1 male) and 2007 (2 males), official surveys have been carried out in 2008 and 2009 (ground litter surveys, sticky band traps and pheromone and light trapping). Ten adult males were trapped in 2008 but no other life stages/gender were detected in any of the surveys. In 2009, 98 adult males were trapped in the same area and, in September 2009, one live larva, a cocoon, and pupal remains were discovered following a selective felling of mature Pinus sylvestris. It is not yet known how or when D. pini was introduced and this is still under investigation. The area affected lies approximately 14 km west of Inverness, Scotland and is confined to a small number of plantations amounting to approximately 1400 hectares. Pest management options are still being evaluated.
The pest status of Dendrolimus pini in the United Kingdom is officially declared as: Present, locally in forests in North-East Scotland at low prevalence. Control measures are being evaluated.
Sources
NPPO of the United Kingdom, 2009-10.