AERIAL SPRAYING
The message on the grapevine and the canopy characteristics of about the author is that oak processionary oak trees, that must be understood moth (OPM) could at last be and satisfied if the programme is controlled by aerial spraying going to work, irrespective of how in the UK. After five years nominally accurate aerial applica- of dithering, the UK Plant tion might be. Health Authorities appear to Spray timing is crucially impor- be learning a lesson, taking the tant for several reasons. BT kills lead from their counterparts OPM larvae via ingestion and stom- in Germany and trialling aerial ach action through larvae feeding application of insecticide on the foliage. Consequently the Dr Terry Mabbett against OPM. target for spray droplets is the new Dr Terry Mabbett is a disease, OPM (Thaumetopoea processio- oak leaves produced in spring, pest and weed control specialist with forty years nea) is moving mainly westwards usually appearing from mid-April international experience onwards with OPM larvae hatching covering research, advisory and southwards from its initial and journalism. His current twin infestation focus on oak trees sometime during the second half fields of focus are professional turf and alien insect pests and imported from the Netherlands and of April. pathogens of Britain’s native planted in the London Boroughs The twin synchronised starting and naturalised trees. of Richmond and Ealing during points are therefore timing of oak 2005/2006. A total of nine contigu- tree re-foliation and hatching of the ous London Boroughs – Richmond, L1 (first instar) larvae from plaques Ealing, Hounslow, Brent, Ham- of insect eggs on small branches mersmith and Fulham, Kensington at the top of the canopy. Both and Chelsea, Kingston, Merton and are dependent on temperature. Wandsworth are now affected by An early spring with higher than this main infestation. Last summer normal temperature should realis- the infestation leapfrogged the tically see earlier synchronised oak Thames from its southern front at tree re-foliation and larval hatch, Hampton Court and into the Elm- and vice versa. bridge area of North Surrey. Next thing to be established is Two ongoing ‘satellite’ infesta- when the larvae start to feed on tions, originating from later bursting buds, young leaves and separate introductions of OPM on flowers. Is it immediately after oak trees also imported from the hatching or sometime thereafter? Netherlands, are in the Pangbourne If a contact insecticide is used area of West Berkshire and the spray operators would additionally West Wickham area of the London benefit from knowing when larvae Borough of Bromley. This latest are most exposed to spray droplets infestation has spilled over into the by being, for instance, on the upper OPM to be targeted neighbouring London Borough of (adaxial) surface of oak leaves. Croydon. Synchronisation of aerial appli- Aerial spraying is not something cation with start of larval feeding done on the hoof with pilots leaping is vital for another very important into cockpits wearing ten-gallon reason. Youngest small larvae (L1, by aerial spraying hats and shouting ‘chocs away’. It L2 and early stage L3) are the easi- requires thorough planning and est to kill with insecticide. The lower regulatory hoops to be jumped the larval body mass then a cor- through, especially since nearly all respondingly lower dose of active OPM affected oak trees in the UK insecticide ingredient is required to How aerial spraying in the South of the UK is bidding to halt are in urban and suburban areas. kill the larva. Any aerial spraying undertaken Secondly this is the only time the march of Oak Processionary Moth, writes Terry Mabbett will be carried out using helicopters during the entire juvenile insect to apply the biological insecticide stage period that larvae will be per- Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. manently feeding on foliage in the kurstaki (BT). Aerial spraying outer shell of foliage at the top of the MAIN ABOVE: Aerial spraying using a Robinson 244 helicopter experts will carefully consider and oak tree canopy where the bulk of fitted with Micronair AU700 calculate a comprehensive range spray droplets from aerial applica- atomisers (Picture Micron Sprayers Ltd) of spray and formulation factors tion will be deposited. Once larvae and parameters. These will include have successfully passed through FAR LEFT: The adult oak processionary moth lays its aircraft speed, height above the the L3 (third instar) stage they eggs in plaques (strips) on small target, nature and concentration of are that much bigger and heavier branches in the upper reaches of the oak tree canopy the liquid formulation used, mean with correspondingly higher doses (Picture Forestry Commission) droplet diameter and droplet size of insecticide required to achieve SECOND LEFT: Operators need distribution, spray volume and mortality. to monitor the timing of egg hatch in spring. A plaque of OPM insecticide dose sprayed per unit OPM larvae in the late L3 to L6 (Picture Forestry Commission) area, as well as wind speed and stages spend progressively more LEFT: Older and larger larvae wind direction on the day. time during the day on the trunk with their higher body mass and main scaffold branches and require larger doses of insecticide to cause mortality Biological perspectives increasingly in their silken nests. (Picture Forestry Commission) In addition, there will be key bio- As such they are less likely to be logical factors and requirements, feeding in on the outer canopy shell related to OPM larva behaviour at the tops of trees where BT depos-
40 GI APRIL 2013 APRIL 2013 GI 41 AERIAL SPRAYING
The message on the grapevine and the canopy characteristics of about the author is that oak processionary oak trees, that must be understood moth (OPM) could at last be and satisfied if the programme is controlled by aerial spraying going to work, irrespective of how in the UK. After five years nominally accurate aerial applica- of dithering, the UK Plant tion might be. Health Authorities appear to Spray timing is crucially impor- be learning a lesson, taking the tant for several reasons. BT kills lead from their counterparts OPM larvae via ingestion and stom- in Germany and trialling aerial ach action through larvae feeding application of insecticide on the foliage. Consequently the Dr Terry Mabbett against OPM. target for spray droplets is the new Dr Terry Mabbett is a disease, OPM (Thaumetopoea processio- oak leaves produced in spring, pest and weed control specialist with forty years nea) is moving mainly westwards usually appearing from mid-April international experience onwards with OPM larvae hatching covering research, advisory and southwards from its initial and journalism. His current twin infestation focus on oak trees sometime during the second half fields of focus are professional turf and alien insect pests and imported from the Netherlands and of April. pathogens of Britain’s native planted in the London Boroughs The twin synchronised starting and naturalised trees. of Richmond and Ealing during points are therefore timing of oak 2005/2006. A total of nine contigu- tree re-foliation and hatching of the ous London Boroughs – Richmond, L1 (first instar) larvae from plaques Ealing, Hounslow, Brent, Ham- of insect eggs on small branches mersmith and Fulham, Kensington at the top of the canopy. Both and Chelsea, Kingston, Merton and are dependent on temperature. Wandsworth are now affected by An early spring with higher than this main infestation. Last summer normal temperature should realis- the infestation leapfrogged the tically see earlier synchronised oak Thames from its southern front at tree re-foliation and larval hatch, Hampton Court and into the Elm- and vice versa. bridge area of North Surrey. Next thing to be established is Two ongoing ‘satellite’ infesta- when the larvae start to feed on tions, originating from later bursting buds, young leaves and separate introductions of OPM on flowers. Is it immediately after oak trees also imported from the hatching or sometime thereafter? Netherlands, are in the Pangbourne If a contact insecticide is used area of West Berkshire and the spray operators would additionally West Wickham area of the London benefit from knowing when larvae Borough of Bromley. This latest are most exposed to spray droplets infestation has spilled over into the by being, for instance, on the upper OPM to be targeted neighbouring London Borough of (adaxial) surface of oak leaves. Croydon. Synchronisation of aerial appli- Aerial spraying is not something cation with start of larval feeding done on the hoof with pilots leaping is vital for another very important into cockpits wearing ten-gallon reason. Youngest small larvae (L1, by aerial spraying hats and shouting ‘chocs away’. It L2 and early stage L3) are the easi- requires thorough planning and est to kill with insecticide. The lower regulatory hoops to be jumped the larval body mass then a cor- through, especially since nearly all respondingly lower dose of active OPM affected oak trees in the UK insecticide ingredient is required to How aerial spraying in the South of the UK is bidding to halt are in urban and suburban areas. kill the larva. Any aerial spraying undertaken Secondly this is the only time the march of Oak Processionary Moth, writes Terry Mabbett will be carried out using helicopters during the entire juvenile insect to apply the biological insecticide stage period that larvae will be per- Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. manently feeding on foliage in the kurstaki (BT). Aerial spraying outer shell of foliage at the top of the MAIN ABOVE: Aerial spraying using a Robinson 244 helicopter experts will carefully consider and oak tree canopy where the bulk of fitted with Micronair AU700 calculate a comprehensive range spray droplets from aerial applica- atomisers (Picture Micron Sprayers Ltd) of spray and formulation factors tion will be deposited. Once larvae and parameters. These will include have successfully passed through FAR LEFT: The adult oak processionary moth lays its aircraft speed, height above the the L3 (third instar) stage they eggs in plaques (strips) on small target, nature and concentration of are that much bigger and heavier branches in the upper reaches of the oak tree canopy the liquid formulation used, mean with correspondingly higher doses (Picture Forestry Commission) droplet diameter and droplet size of insecticide required to achieve SECOND LEFT: Operators need distribution, spray volume and mortality. to monitor the timing of egg hatch in spring. A plaque of OPM insecticide dose sprayed per unit OPM larvae in the late L3 to L6 (Picture Forestry Commission) area, as well as wind speed and stages spend progressively more LEFT: Older and larger larvae wind direction on the day. time during the day on the trunk with their higher body mass and main scaffold branches and require larger doses of insecticide to cause mortality Biological perspectives increasingly in their silken nests. (Picture Forestry Commission) In addition, there will be key bio- As such they are less likely to be logical factors and requirements, feeding in on the outer canopy shell related to OPM larva behaviour at the tops of trees where BT depos-
40 GI APRIL 2013 APRIL 2013 GI 41 AERIAL SPRAYING
its are made, so they will become be high at the tops of tall oak trees. Collateral cost: aerial spraying cerris) and evergreen or holm oak enough to spare the purple hair- Gold Key increasing difficult to ‘reach’ by These factors, depending on against OPM Sponsors (Q. ilex). streak from most risk and damage. aerial spraying. spring weather experienced, may Whether the purple hair streak Egg hatch and appearance of L1 Larvae start to develop the irritat- shorten the interval before a follow- One question sure to be asked is at risk from sprays of BT will larvae starts well before that of ing hairs from L3 onwards, and last up spray application is needed. by today’s environmentally-aware largely depend on timing of egg OPM with some British butterfly thing wanted is for thousands of Aerial spraying trials on trees greenkeeper is the extent of any hatch and larval feeding and how websites indicating the first half of dead larvae with still active stinging are ideally carried out on larger collateral ecological damage from this matches with that of OPM. March, which means up to 8 weeks hairs falling out of oak trees after expanses of woodland and as such aerial application. Provided aerial However, ‘oddities’ in larval feed- before any OPM spraying can be aerial application of insecticide. the majority of golf courses might spraying against OPM is well ing behaviour indicate purple contemplated. The window of aerial spray not seem like the obvious place to planned, well timed and carried hairstreak could avoid significant Situation for moths is more application opportunity is clearly start. However, word on the grape- out with the required precision collateral damage. complicated in number at least. No quite narrow and generally closed vine is that trials may involve (by any ecological fall-out should be The female purple hairstreak less than 2400 different moth spe- by mid-May. necessity) spraying by helicopter minimal, and acceptable given the lays eggs singly at bases of plump cies have been recorded in Britain Collection of biological data is of small groups of oak trees or even alternative of giving OPM a ‘clear oak buds in late summer. It prefers including 800 found regularly. In Silver Key standard practice when planning individual trees. run’ and ‘free hand’. Sponsors mature trees outside of dense Northumberland over 50 different any spray programme against a Provided it is carried out when BT is specifically active against woodland, and often isolated species of moth are recorded with lepidopterous (butterfly and moth) play is not in progress, golf courses the larval stages of the Lepidoptera hedgerow and landscape oaks with either Q. robur or Q. petraea as a larval (caterpillar) insect pest, but would appear to offer as good a (butterflies and moths) and only via twisted and gnarled branches, just larval food plant. is easier said than done on a 20m place and opportunity as anywhere, ingestion and stomach action. OPM the sort of oak trees found on many However, the larval stage of many tall oak tree than a 1m high cotton within an urban or suburban area, larvae have to eat BT covered oak golf courses. moth species is in June and July plant. to trial aerial application of insecti- foliage to pick up a potentially lethal Eggs hatch is synchronised with well after any anticipated spraying Nevertheless it needs to be done cide against OPM. dose. first signs of bud break. However, against OPM. and clearly requires entomologists A number of golf courses are No other class of insect or L1 (first instar) larvae do not Last but not least is ‘His Majesty’, ABOVE RIGHT: Late L3 to L6 plant the purple emperor should be larvae spend more daytime in MEWPs (cherry pickers) to see already being forced to use ground arthropod (e.g. woodlice) is affected. start to feed from the outside but the male purple emperor butterfly hours on the trunk and safe. However, the adult butterflies main scaffold branches and drink oak sap and honeydew excre- exactly what is going in the tops of spraying equipment against OPM Only insects at potential risk are burrow into buds and stay there (Apatura iris). Purple emperor but- increasingly in their silken nests oak trees infested with OPM. every year with many more at Lepidoptera which use oak as feeding safely until the first moult terflies are closely associated with (Picture Forestry Commission) tions from aphids feeding on oak Longevity of BT on plant foliage is risk. BT is completely harmless a larval food plant and only one is complete. As larvae get larger and oak woodland although the female foliage. relatively short. to humans. It has been used for native British butterfly falls into oak buds open, they spin silken lays its eggs on sallow, mainly great Whether or not they could pick up The product is applied as a water- many years as a bioinsecticide in this category. Larvae of the purple protective retreats outside and feed sallow (Salix caprea) and also called BT in this way, and indeed whether dispersible granule and is therefore agriculture and horticulture to hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus) only at night. During growth and goat willow or pussy willow, grow- BT would be infective against the HR_Qualibra Ad_CMYK.pdf 1 25/02/2013 11:57 prone to wash off from the foliage control lepidopterous larvae on feed on pedunculate oak (Quercus development of the larva there are ing at the woodland margin and adult insect stage, is something by rainfall. Activity is also reduced dozens of different everyday fruit robur) and sessile oak (Q. petraea) three moults prior to pupation. along woodland rides. which doesn’t appear to have been by UV light levels which can clearly and vegetable crops. and sometimes Turkey oak (Q. These idiosyncrasies may be With sallow as the larval food considered.
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C M “Greens treated with "From what I have “Where we had Deeper thinking Y Qualibra were clearly seen, using Qualibra sprayed Qualibra CM healthier and would mean I may only there has been a
MY provided better need to irrigate once a marked and sustained
CY playing surfaces.” week – a big saving in improvement in New wetting and water conservation time and money.” sward quality.” CMY Ian Coote technology that moves water from the K Royston Golf Club, Glenn Ray eld Philip Baldock Herts Felixstowe Ferry Golf Ganton Golf Club, surface AND holds it deeper and more Club, Suffolk Yorkshire evenly in the root zone.
Syngenta Crop Protection UK Ltd. Registered in England No. 849037. CPC4, Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5XE Email: [email protected] Web: www.greencast.co.uk / www.greencast.ie Qualibra® is a Registered Trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. All other brand names used are trademarks of other manufacturers in which proprietary rights may exist. Always read the label and product information before use. For more information including warning phrases and symbols refer to www.greencast.co.uk © Syngenta AG February 2013. GQ 03751. Distributed in the UK and Ireland by Everris Visit www.greencast.co.uk for more information 42Everris GI APRIL Limited 2013 Tel: 0844 8094470 Email: [email protected] Web: www.everris.com APRIL 2013 GI 43 AERIAL SPRAYING
its are made, so they will become be high at the tops of tall oak trees. Collateral cost: aerial spraying cerris) and evergreen or holm oak enough to spare the purple hair- Gold Key increasing difficult to ‘reach’ by These factors, depending on against OPM Sponsors (Q. ilex). streak from most risk and damage. aerial spraying. spring weather experienced, may Whether the purple hair streak Egg hatch and appearance of L1 Larvae start to develop the irritat- shorten the interval before a follow- One question sure to be asked is at risk from sprays of BT will larvae starts well before that of ing hairs from L3 onwards, and last up spray application is needed. by today’s environmentally-aware largely depend on timing of egg OPM with some British butterfly thing wanted is for thousands of Aerial spraying trials on trees greenkeeper is the extent of any hatch and larval feeding and how websites indicating the first half of dead larvae with still active stinging are ideally carried out on larger collateral ecological damage from this matches with that of OPM. March, which means up to 8 weeks hairs falling out of oak trees after expanses of woodland and as such aerial application. Provided aerial However, ‘oddities’ in larval feed- before any OPM spraying can be aerial application of insecticide. the majority of golf courses might spraying against OPM is well ing behaviour indicate purple contemplated. The window of aerial spray not seem like the obvious place to planned, well timed and carried hairstreak could avoid significant Situation for moths is more application opportunity is clearly start. However, word on the grape- out with the required precision collateral damage. complicated in number at least. No quite narrow and generally closed vine is that trials may involve (by any ecological fall-out should be The female purple hairstreak less than 2400 different moth spe- by mid-May. necessity) spraying by helicopter minimal, and acceptable given the lays eggs singly at bases of plump cies have been recorded in Britain Collection of biological data is of small groups of oak trees or even alternative of giving OPM a ‘clear oak buds in late summer. It prefers including 800 found regularly. In Silver Key standard practice when planning individual trees. run’ and ‘free hand’. Sponsors mature trees outside of dense Northumberland over 50 different any spray programme against a Provided it is carried out when BT is specifically active against woodland, and often isolated species of moth are recorded with lepidopterous (butterfly and moth) play is not in progress, golf courses the larval stages of the Lepidoptera hedgerow and landscape oaks with either Q. robur or Q. petraea as a larval (caterpillar) insect pest, but would appear to offer as good a (butterflies and moths) and only via twisted and gnarled branches, just larval food plant. is easier said than done on a 20m place and opportunity as anywhere, ingestion and stomach action. OPM the sort of oak trees found on many However, the larval stage of many tall oak tree than a 1m high cotton within an urban or suburban area, larvae have to eat BT covered oak golf courses. moth species is in June and July plant. to trial aerial application of insecti- foliage to pick up a potentially lethal Eggs hatch is synchronised with well after any anticipated spraying Nevertheless it needs to be done cide against OPM. dose. first signs of bud break. However, against OPM. and clearly requires entomologists A number of golf courses are No other class of insect or L1 (first instar) larvae do not Last but not least is ‘His Majesty’, ABOVE RIGHT: Late L3 to L6 plant the purple emperor should be larvae spend more daytime in MEWPs (cherry pickers) to see already being forced to use ground arthropod (e.g. woodlice) is affected. start to feed from the outside but the male purple emperor butterfly hours on the trunk and safe. However, the adult butterflies main scaffold branches and drink oak sap and honeydew excre- exactly what is going in the tops of spraying equipment against OPM Only insects at potential risk are burrow into buds and stay there (Apatura iris). Purple emperor but- increasingly in their silken nests oak trees infested with OPM. every year with many more at Lepidoptera which use oak as feeding safely until the first moult terflies are closely associated with (Picture Forestry Commission) tions from aphids feeding on oak Longevity of BT on plant foliage is risk. BT is completely harmless a larval food plant and only one is complete. As larvae get larger and oak woodland although the female foliage. relatively short. to humans. It has been used for native British butterfly falls into oak buds open, they spin silken lays its eggs on sallow, mainly great Whether or not they could pick up The product is applied as a water- many years as a bioinsecticide in this category. Larvae of the purple protective retreats outside and feed sallow (Salix caprea) and also called BT in this way, and indeed whether dispersible granule and is therefore agriculture and horticulture to hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus) only at night. During growth and goat willow or pussy willow, grow- BT would be infective against the HR_Qualibra Ad_CMYK.pdf 1 25/02/2013 11:57 prone to wash off from the foliage control lepidopterous larvae on feed on pedunculate oak (Quercus development of the larva there are ing at the woodland margin and adult insect stage, is something by rainfall. Activity is also reduced dozens of different everyday fruit robur) and sessile oak (Q. petraea) three moults prior to pupation. along woodland rides. which doesn’t appear to have been by UV light levels which can clearly and vegetable crops. and sometimes Turkey oak (Q. These idiosyncrasies may be With sallow as the larval food considered.
WIN a Go-Pro Hero visit qualibraextreme.co.uk for more details! Experience NEW standards of performance... Qualibra
C M “Greens treated with "From what I have “Where we had Deeper thinking Y Qualibra were clearly seen, using Qualibra sprayed Qualibra CM healthier and would mean I may only there has been a
MY provided better need to irrigate once a marked and sustained
CY playing surfaces.” week – a big saving in improvement in New wetting and water conservation time and money.” sward quality.” CMY Ian Coote technology that moves water from the K Royston Golf Club, Glenn Ray eld Philip Baldock Herts Felixstowe Ferry Golf Ganton Golf Club, surface AND holds it deeper and more Club, Suffolk Yorkshire evenly in the root zone.
Syngenta Crop Protection UK Ltd. Registered in England No. 849037. CPC4, Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5XE Email: [email protected] Web: www.greencast.co.uk / www.greencast.ie Qualibra® is a Registered Trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. All other brand names used are trademarks of other manufacturers in which proprietary rights may exist. Always read the label and product information before use. For more information including warning phrases and symbols refer to www.greencast.co.uk © Syngenta AG February 2013. GQ 03751. Distributed in the UK and Ireland by Everris Visit www.greencast.co.uk for more information 42Everris GI APRIL Limited 2013 Tel: 0844 8094470 Email: [email protected] Web: www.everris.com APRIL 2013 GI 43