Control and Management of the Pine Weevil Hylobius Abietis L
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Control and Management of the Pine Weevil Hylobius abietis L. * Amelia TUDORAN , Ion OLTEAN, Mircea VARGA Department of Plants Protection, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj- Napoca,* Romania corresponding author: [email protected] BulletinUASVM Horticulture 76(1) / 2019 Print ISSN 1843-5254, Electronic ISSN 1843-5394 DOI:10.15835/buasvmcn-hort: 2018.0049 Abstract Hylobius abietis H. abietis in The pine weevil, L., is a pest of economic importance causing massive damage to conifer seedlings planted on reforestation sites. The lack of effective methods to prevent establishment of newly-harvested sites makes it a threat to European forests. The biology and ecology of the pine weevil have been intensely studied through the years. However, in light of current and future climate change much of the knowledge gathered thus far may need to be re-evaluated under these new conditions. Changes in temperature and other climatic variables may strongly change, for example, the development of the weevil and its distribution. Such changes may result in higher population numbers and increase the feeding pressure on newly planted seedlings,H. abietis thus making it a novel pest in certain areas or increasing its pest status in others. There is a need to synthesize our current understanding on the biology, behavior and methods of damage control by the pine weevil , in order to identify knowledge gaps and propose new management practices. In this review, we present such an overview and provide several examples on how this knowledge could be expanded or used to meet future challenges.Keywords Hylobius abietis, : Control, monitoring, prevention Introduction Hylobius abietis is considered to be the main Hylobius th decade (Olenici, and Olenici, 1994). Thus,et theal. first reports of attacks by started during the 4 pest of forest plantations acrosset al. Europe, at least of the current century (Leather , 1999), with in 15 countrieset and al. on approximately 3.4 mil. the first written studies on the species dating hectares of forest (McNamera th , 2018), and also from around the same time (Olenici, and Olenici, etin Asiaal. (Leather , 1999). The large pine weevil H.1994). abietis Currently, there are no official estimates on became a pest starting in the 19 century (Leather occurthe amount in nurseries. of bark-feeding damage produced by , 1999) and it remains a threat, especially in Romania, where the main problems given current regulations against the application etof pesticidesal. in forest sites, synthetic pyrethroids In light of the challenges we face due to such as deltamethrin and cypermethrinet al. (Leather global warming, it is imperative that we examine , 1999), although deltamethrin has been various current and future alternatives to control shown to have low persistence (Viiri , 2007). this species, as well as re-evaluate the knowledge However, in Romania it became a pest much later gathered so far. The potential influence of climate since clear cutting of conifer forests started later change on the pine weevil is relatively unknown, than the rest of Europe. Regeneration thhas been therefore there is a need to increase and update done either naturally or through seed planting the current information. Some studies have shown during the first few decades of the 20 century that changes in the pine weevil’s life cycle can 12 et al. TUDORAN et. al. et al. et al. occur (Inward , 2012), thus, we can expect trees (Day , 2004). According to Fedderwitz the species distribution and population to differ (2014) pine weevils allocate 6% of their time from the current one. Considering that ethost al. to feeding,2 making 4-5 meals a day, eating about plant distribution and adaptation are also likely 13 mm (debarked stemet al.area) per meal. Feeding to change with global warming (Dyderski , depends on the species of conifer, the depth of bark 2017) their susceptibility to attack by insect and temperature (Day , 2004). Adults feed onet pests could increase or decrease under future al.the stem and roots of seedlings, and can often be scenarios. In this article, we focus on identifying found in the crowns of adult trees (Fedderwitz the knowledge gaps and the information gathered , 2018). so far in order to pose unanswered questions Copulationet altakes period betweenet al. May and new possibilities of protecting the seedlings and August, whichH. abietis is a individualsrelatively longdo notperiod use andagainst control the pine measures. weevil. We present an overview of (Lekander ., 1985). Tilles (1986) the life cycle of the pine weevil, as well as damage showed that Life cycle pheromones to recognize one another over high Hylobius abietis develops in roots or stumps distances, but merely etover al. a few centimeters. However, sex-specific recognition occurs at very short distances (Tilles 1987). After mating of dead conifer trees, laying its eggs in the bark takes place, the females lay their eggs in the etfresh al. of conifer stumps. Although predominantly stumps of conifers. Feeding as well as oviposition semivoltine, the influence of temperature onet. are affected by climate conditions (Bylund , al.weevil mass is likely to have a positive effect on 2004). Oviposition takes placeet from al. May up until fecundity and overwintering survival (Inward September, with a peak in the middle of May up to , 2012). Depending on the microclimate and the beginning of June (Leather , 1999). Larvae the quality of the stumps, the life cycle can be emerge and start feeding subcortically on the bark. between 12-36 months, but it can reach 5 years in Host quality foret feeding al., larvae has a large impact areas with cold climate (Dillon and Griffin, 2008). over the earlyrd stagesth of reproduction of the pine Considering they are poikilothermic organisms,Hylobius weevil (Thorpe 2008). In general, for the larva abietis’all insects have their development conditioned by in their 3 and 4 instar as well as for the adults, the temperature of the environment. In overwintering takes place in the pupal chambers case, this influence is manifesting itself (Nordenhem, 1989). As the ettemperature al. drops much stronger than in other species due to the its (generally under 8 °C), adults migrate towards the long oviposition period; and also, that the larva insectsoil for behavior hibernation is dependent(Leather on , environmental1999), usually can develop at various soil depth levels. In Europe, being found in the soil litter of mature forests. The the amount of time needed from the moment of et al. emergence from the egg up to its first reproduction factors and the insect itselfH. physiologicallyabietis has a is around 2 years (CABI, 2015). Furthermore, the speaking (Leather , 1999). Nordenhem and development highly depends on the quality of Eidmann (1991) suggest that the host, temperature and ovipositionet al factors. different reaction to various attractants depending Populations vary in size, depending on the age and on its development stage. The spatial orientation condition of the host plant (Davis ., 2008). of the adult is dependent on light and humidity,et Adults generally emerge from hibernation al.and the response to these factors varies according during the spring, when the temperatures to the insects’ developmental stage (Leatheret al. reach 8-9 °C (Nordenhem, 1989). The activity , 1999). The weevils respond also to acoustic of the adult is very dependent of temperature, signals and volatiles of host plants (Leather , light and humidity, preferring a temperature of 1999). approximately 20 to 25 degrees for feeding and The potential effects of climate change oviposition (Christiansen and Bakke, 1968).et al. Flight on the pine weevil´s life cycle have been little takes place at temperatures of over 18-19 °C, studied, althoughet al. longer summers and increased with a wind speed of 3-4 m/s-1 (Day , 2004). temperatures are likely to have an effect on the Adults disperse looking for new hosts where they weevils (Tan , 2010). Thus, potentially leading will feed up to maturity in the crowns of adult to future increases in pine weevil population size Hylobius abietis L. 13 Control and Management of the Pine Weevil et and the damage to planted seedlings. To identify al.it is recommended etto al. take control measures to morphological changes in the pine weevils, related prevent major seedling mortality (Leather to climate change, we could examine the sexual , 1999; Albrecht , 2008). Without control organs of the adults. Identifying changes related measures, young plantations,et al. about 2 years old, to the timing of sexual maturity could give an suffer between 30 and 100% seedling mortality indication of how mating and oviposition might in Europe (Albrecht , 2008; CABI 2015). The andshift usedue this to climateas a control change. method. Thus, Suchproviding studies a damage is not consistent between plantations, havewindow been of opportunity done on toListronotus interfere withmaculicollis its cycle it can differ from one plantation to another. This et al. is because each site has a different microclimate and different substrate. To improve pest control, (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (Wu , 2017), and variables at different sites could be examined, and it has been shown that low temperature prevented levels of pine weevil damage assessed in relation reproductive development. If we examine the pestto manipulation control approach of these could variables. be recommended. Results from effect of different climatic variables on the different sites could be compared, and a general reproductive development of the pine weevils, we H. abietis could potentially use this information to enhance The influence of silviculturalet al. techniques over pestDamage control in future scenarios. the populations of is complex and poorly Hylobius abietis understood (Leather , 1999). Freshly cut parcels, as well as those resulting from forest fires, causes damage especially to are invaded by a large number of beetles from the hosts freshlyet al. planted in clear cuts or next to 2-3 first vegetation period after the appearance of tissueyear old emits forests chemicals or trees withthat damagedattract the branches adults these surfaces.