Not So Fast! International Biosecurity Program Succeeds in Preventing Spread of Invasive Moth
The moth Lymantria dispar asiatica has been unintentionally introduced to North America several times in the last few decades. Through a complex monitoring and management program, officials have been able to prevent this pest from establishing in North American forests. A new report in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management gives an inside look at this success.
Meet the Fungus That Slows the Spread of an Invasive Moth
One of the best tools for forest entomologists to manage outbreaks of the moth Lymantria dispar is a fungus, native to Japan, that was discovered in the U.S. in 1989. Entomophaga maimaiga can be spread via soil containing its spores or infected L. dispar larvae.
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s an Ecological Field Study!
In a recent study in Germany, targeted delivery of insecticides by unmanned aerial vehicles was effective against oak processionary moths. Researchers say such drones are suitable for aerial spraying during field studies and may open new doors for "precision forestry."
Donna Leonard: At the Helm of a World-Renowned Forest Insect Management Program
Donna Leonard, forest entomologist at the U.S. Forest Service, has piloted one of the most successful forest insect-management programs in the world for over 20 years running, all while navigating a career in a male-dominated field.