APPLICATION OF SEMIOCHEMICALS FOR MANAGEMENT OF BARK BEETLES: CURRENT STATUS, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Jan VRKOC-1, Petr ZAHRADNÍK-2, Milos KNÍZEK-2
1-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nám. a. CZ-166 l0 Prague, The Czech Republic,
2-Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviste-Strnady, CZ 156 04 Prague, The Czech Republic


Research and development of insect pheromones for forest pest management have been in progress for more than 20 years. Soon after the identification of main pheromone components of spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus), the first dispensers were used during outbreaks in several European countries for monitoring and mass trapping both in trap trees and traps. At the same time forest insect entomologists have gain a basic understanding of the pheromone potential for pest management. Research and development of semiochemical applications has been started for a number of economically important pests. Recent technologies have accelerated the isolation, identification and syntheses of semiochemicals. The main and so far not resolved problein slowing down a wide application seems to be in delivery systems. The problems that limit the development and deployment of semiochemicals in agriculture, limit also their use in forestry. It concerns both dispensers applied by hand for mass trapping and the use of semiochemicals in antiagguegation strategy. Most of problems have been in the development of aerially-applied formulations. The acceptable, reliable and efficient delivery systems have to ensure consistent release characterstics for sufficient period of time under highly variable field conditions, which is difficult to achieve. Widespread using of biorational pest control agents and replacing conventional pesticides is one side of the problem. On the other side what needs to be solved is for example development and production costs, limited use thus limited profitability, registration difficulties and lack of governmental support.


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