Australian Forestry 2004 Vol. 67, No. 2 pp. 101–113 101 Spatial analysis of an outbreak of Uraba lugens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the south- west of Western Australia: does logging, vegetation type or fire influence outbreaks? J.D. Farr1, D. Swain2 and F. Metcalf3 1Science Division, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Brain St, Manjimup, Western Australia 6258, Australia Email:
[email protected] 2Forest Management Branch, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Brain St, Manjimup, WA 6258, Australia 3Fire Management Services, Department of Conservation and Land Management, 17 Dick Perry Av., Kensington, WA 6151, Australia Revised manuscript received 29 September 2003 Summary The aerial observations revealed that areas of severe defoliation existed as distinct localities in the southern jarrah forest, north- There was an outbreak of gumleaf skeletoniser (GLS, Uraba west of Manjimup and north of Walpole (Strelein 1988a; Abbott lugens Walker) in the southern jarrah forest in 1982–1988. Aerial 1992a,b). The extent of marked defoliation in successive outbreak and observational survey data were used in a Geographic years expanded from 90 000 ha in 1983 to 300 000 ha in 1985 Information System analysis of the possible impact of forest (Abbott 1987, 1990) such that the infestation was advancing on management practices on this insect. In addition, this allowed approximately a north-easterly front (Strelein 1988a; Abbott 1992b). investigation of the influence of vegetation type on the distribution of GLS. A total area of 6.7 million ha was interrogated, including Jarrah is an important Australian hardwood and its exploitation 89 900 ha of land infested with GLS.