Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian Alps
The pine processionary moth (PPM), <i>Thaumetopoea pityocampa</i> (Denis and Schiffermüller), is one of the most economically important forest defoliators in southern Europe. This pest is a univoltine oligophagous insect species, and the genus <i>Pinus</i> represents its main...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Forests |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/1/31 |
| _version_ | 1797442513934483456 |
|---|---|
| author | Chiara Ferracini Valerio Saitta Gabriele Rondoni Ivan Rollet |
| author_facet | Chiara Ferracini Valerio Saitta Gabriele Rondoni Ivan Rollet |
| author_sort | Chiara Ferracini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pine processionary moth (PPM), <i>Thaumetopoea pityocampa</i> (Denis and Schiffermüller), is one of the most economically important forest defoliators in southern Europe. This pest is a univoltine oligophagous insect species, and the genus <i>Pinus</i> represents its main host. Investigations were carried out in the five-year period 2016–2020 in NW Italy. PPM males were monitored using commercial funnel traps baited with sex pheromone. The infestation index was recorded by counting the number of nests per tree. Temperature and rainfall were automatically recorded by 94 georeferenced meteorological stations. Adult presence was evaluated as the maximum number of captured individuals in a day, total captures during the season, the Julian day at max captures, or at first or last captures. Environmental variables (altitude, cumulative rain, and cumulative degree-days) and biological parameters were summarized using principal component analysis. Our study showed that the analyzed variables contribute to driving and affecting the PPM population dynamics, which also exhibited a year-to-year decrease. Due to the environmental and sanitary importance, all the data collected about the PPM will be useful to develop predictive risk models, as to deploy countermeasures in a timely and cost-effective manner. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:42:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88bc24efa04940cfbec09549f274021d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:42:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-88bc24efa04940cfbec09549f274021d2023-11-30T22:16:23ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-12-011413110.3390/f14010031Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian AlpsChiara Ferracini0Valerio Saitta1Gabriele Rondoni2Ivan Rollet3Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 06121 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 06121 Perugia, ItalyAssessorat de l’Environnement, des Ressources Naturelles et du Corps Forestier, Département des Ressources Naturelles et du Corps Forestier, Corps Forestier de la Vallée d’Aoste, Loc. La Grande Charrière, 14, 11020 Saint-Christophe, ItalyThe pine processionary moth (PPM), <i>Thaumetopoea pityocampa</i> (Denis and Schiffermüller), is one of the most economically important forest defoliators in southern Europe. This pest is a univoltine oligophagous insect species, and the genus <i>Pinus</i> represents its main host. Investigations were carried out in the five-year period 2016–2020 in NW Italy. PPM males were monitored using commercial funnel traps baited with sex pheromone. The infestation index was recorded by counting the number of nests per tree. Temperature and rainfall were automatically recorded by 94 georeferenced meteorological stations. Adult presence was evaluated as the maximum number of captured individuals in a day, total captures during the season, the Julian day at max captures, or at first or last captures. Environmental variables (altitude, cumulative rain, and cumulative degree-days) and biological parameters were summarized using principal component analysis. Our study showed that the analyzed variables contribute to driving and affecting the PPM population dynamics, which also exhibited a year-to-year decrease. Due to the environmental and sanitary importance, all the data collected about the PPM will be useful to develop predictive risk models, as to deploy countermeasures in a timely and cost-effective manner.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/1/31<i>Thaumetopoea pityocampa</i>seasonal flight activityclimate changeforest insect pestpest outbreak |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Ferracini Valerio Saitta Gabriele Rondoni Ivan Rollet Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian Alps Forests <i>Thaumetopoea pityocampa</i> seasonal flight activity climate change forest insect pest pest outbreak |
| title | Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian Alps |
| title_full | Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian Alps |
| title_fullStr | Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian Alps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian Alps |
| title_short | Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian Alps |
| title_sort | variables affecting the pine processionary moth flight a survey in the north western italian alps |
| topic | <i>Thaumetopoea pityocampa</i> seasonal flight activity climate change forest insect pest pest outbreak |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/1/31 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chiaraferracini variablesaffectingthepineprocessionarymothflightasurveyinthenorthwesternitalianalps AT valeriosaitta variablesaffectingthepineprocessionarymothflightasurveyinthenorthwesternitalianalps AT gabrielerondoni variablesaffectingthepineprocessionarymothflightasurveyinthenorthwesternitalianalps AT ivanrollet variablesaffectingthepineprocessionarymothflightasurveyinthenorthwesternitalianalps |