BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS THAT THREATEN TREE HEALTH
Lead Research Organisation:
Forest Research
Department Name: Centre for Ecosystems Soc and Biosecur
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
BIPESCO aims to develop novel and environmentally friendly pest control products and strategies to improve the management of native and non-native (invasive) pest insects.
The main objectives are to:
1. Build on previous work demonstrating effective control with EPF (M.anisopliae and B.bassiana) and establish the best strains of these two species against four target pest species: Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), pine processionary moth (PPM), pine weevil (PW]) and black vine weevil (BVW).
2. Use these EPF and a range of plant-derived botanicals to kill specific target pests both alone and in combination to determine effective synergies
3. Develop the role of these BCA in co-ordinated management strategies to reduce impacts of pest species by 'lure and kill' and 'stress and kill' approaches
4. Develop portable, cost-effective equipment for improved detection of target pests
5. Demonstrate applied field-based control of known pest species
6. Reduce the reliance on insecticides in pest control.
The main methods to be adopted are:
1. Field work and laboratory based quarantine screening of BCA will be used to determine virulence and stability against ALB, PPM, PW and BVW, and to elucidate why insects are more susceptible to infection.
2. Field trials will be established to test the two most promising strains against two native model insects in forest (PW) and nursery environments (BVW)
3. The efficacy of current monitoring traps will be enhanced using botanical attractants which will also concentrate populations for increased EPF infection
4. New prototype traps will be developed to improve trapping rates and thereby local pest monitoring and population control in collaboration with industry partners.
5. Field site management will also be used to manipulate and concentrate insect pest populations to enable improved local targeting with BCAs thereby also increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
The main objectives are to:
1. Build on previous work demonstrating effective control with EPF (M.anisopliae and B.bassiana) and establish the best strains of these two species against four target pest species: Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), pine processionary moth (PPM), pine weevil (PW]) and black vine weevil (BVW).
2. Use these EPF and a range of plant-derived botanicals to kill specific target pests both alone and in combination to determine effective synergies
3. Develop the role of these BCA in co-ordinated management strategies to reduce impacts of pest species by 'lure and kill' and 'stress and kill' approaches
4. Develop portable, cost-effective equipment for improved detection of target pests
5. Demonstrate applied field-based control of known pest species
6. Reduce the reliance on insecticides in pest control.
The main methods to be adopted are:
1. Field work and laboratory based quarantine screening of BCA will be used to determine virulence and stability against ALB, PPM, PW and BVW, and to elucidate why insects are more susceptible to infection.
2. Field trials will be established to test the two most promising strains against two native model insects in forest (PW) and nursery environments (BVW)
3. The efficacy of current monitoring traps will be enhanced using botanical attractants which will also concentrate populations for increased EPF infection
4. New prototype traps will be developed to improve trapping rates and thereby local pest monitoring and population control in collaboration with industry partners.
5. Field site management will also be used to manipulate and concentrate insect pest populations to enable improved local targeting with BCAs thereby also increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
Planned Impact
Pest Control Of Insect Pests That Threaten Trees And Human Health (BIPESCO)
BIPESCO will develop entomopathogenic fungi and botanicals to control existing and emergent insect pests that are a problem in forests and tree nurseries, and those which are a threat to human health and the environment. Botanicals with attractant or repellent properties will be used alone or with fungi in novel "lure and kill" and "stress and kill" pest control strategies. In addition, BIPESCO will increase understanding of the underlying mechanisms for increased susceptibility of stressed insects to fungal infection and will influence future control strategies, in part because the agents can be used at reduced application rates and cost. The products and strategies developed within the project will offer an environmentally friendly, sustainable method of pest control in the short, medium and long term, benefiting many sectors both directly and indirectly.
Beneficiaries will include researchers, industry (biopesticide producers and users), government agencies, local authorities, public bodies, environmental groups and the general public. The forestry sector will benefit from having benign alternatives to chemicals that are being withdrawn for the control of pine weevil, the most destructive pest in conifer forests. Nurseries and the horticultural sector will benefit in having efficacious products and strategies for control of black vine weevil larvae in nursery stock. Pine processionary moth (PPM) and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) pose major threats to UK pine and hardwoods, respectively. Benign control products and strategies for these pests would benefit countries where they are endemic but, should they enter the UK, as recently with ALB, could play a major role in their eradication. Effective control of PPM will benefit the forestry sector from economic losses and also forest users (workers and tourists) at risk from urticating hairs released by the larvae and harmful to human health. ALB has a wide host range and, if unchecked, would have a profound impact on urban landscapes (e.g. horsechestnut, cherry, plane, elm, poplar, maple), biofuel crops (e.g. willow), natural and managed woodlands (e.g. ash, beech, birch, alder) which, in turn, would impact on the wildlife in those ecosystems. Botanicals offer a relatively inexpensive method of killing pests inside galleries so could be used to treat suspect infested wood.
BIPESCO will add to the diminishing arsenal of products for pest control and enable growers to comply with EU legislation (EC Regulation 1107/2009 & Directive 2009/128/EC) that oblige member states to implement principles of integrated pest management (IPM) with priority to be given to benign, non-chemical methods of pest control. BIPESCO products and IPM strategies address this legislation and will increase the competitiveness of UK enterprises in strategic areas of pest control. BIPESCO products are safer than conventional pesticides and will protect and benefit the general public and wildlife. Other benefits to stakeholders include: helping foresters comply with Forest Stewardship Council's certification scheme, creating wealth and jobs in important bioscience sectors (knowledge based economy), and ensuring sustained collaboration between the industry and non-industry partners. Other companies in the supply chain (non-participants) will also benefit (e.g. producers of botanicals, biodegradable polymers for controlled release of attractants/repellents). BIPESCO focuses on pests which are of major socio-economic importance. The outputs will benefit the UK and many significant overseas markets through the development by the project consortium of fungal and botanical based products, focussing on the gap in the market for safe alternatives. These products will also create the opportunity to target several market sectors (multiple income streams) reflected by several companies and government agencies participating in the project.
BIPESCO will develop entomopathogenic fungi and botanicals to control existing and emergent insect pests that are a problem in forests and tree nurseries, and those which are a threat to human health and the environment. Botanicals with attractant or repellent properties will be used alone or with fungi in novel "lure and kill" and "stress and kill" pest control strategies. In addition, BIPESCO will increase understanding of the underlying mechanisms for increased susceptibility of stressed insects to fungal infection and will influence future control strategies, in part because the agents can be used at reduced application rates and cost. The products and strategies developed within the project will offer an environmentally friendly, sustainable method of pest control in the short, medium and long term, benefiting many sectors both directly and indirectly.
Beneficiaries will include researchers, industry (biopesticide producers and users), government agencies, local authorities, public bodies, environmental groups and the general public. The forestry sector will benefit from having benign alternatives to chemicals that are being withdrawn for the control of pine weevil, the most destructive pest in conifer forests. Nurseries and the horticultural sector will benefit in having efficacious products and strategies for control of black vine weevil larvae in nursery stock. Pine processionary moth (PPM) and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) pose major threats to UK pine and hardwoods, respectively. Benign control products and strategies for these pests would benefit countries where they are endemic but, should they enter the UK, as recently with ALB, could play a major role in their eradication. Effective control of PPM will benefit the forestry sector from economic losses and also forest users (workers and tourists) at risk from urticating hairs released by the larvae and harmful to human health. ALB has a wide host range and, if unchecked, would have a profound impact on urban landscapes (e.g. horsechestnut, cherry, plane, elm, poplar, maple), biofuel crops (e.g. willow), natural and managed woodlands (e.g. ash, beech, birch, alder) which, in turn, would impact on the wildlife in those ecosystems. Botanicals offer a relatively inexpensive method of killing pests inside galleries so could be used to treat suspect infested wood.
BIPESCO will add to the diminishing arsenal of products for pest control and enable growers to comply with EU legislation (EC Regulation 1107/2009 & Directive 2009/128/EC) that oblige member states to implement principles of integrated pest management (IPM) with priority to be given to benign, non-chemical methods of pest control. BIPESCO products and IPM strategies address this legislation and will increase the competitiveness of UK enterprises in strategic areas of pest control. BIPESCO products are safer than conventional pesticides and will protect and benefit the general public and wildlife. Other benefits to stakeholders include: helping foresters comply with Forest Stewardship Council's certification scheme, creating wealth and jobs in important bioscience sectors (knowledge based economy), and ensuring sustained collaboration between the industry and non-industry partners. Other companies in the supply chain (non-participants) will also benefit (e.g. producers of botanicals, biodegradable polymers for controlled release of attractants/repellents). BIPESCO focuses on pests which are of major socio-economic importance. The outputs will benefit the UK and many significant overseas markets through the development by the project consortium of fungal and botanical based products, focussing on the gap in the market for safe alternatives. These products will also create the opportunity to target several market sectors (multiple income streams) reflected by several companies and government agencies participating in the project.
Organisations
- Forest Research (Lead Research Organisation)
- Economic and Social Research Council (Co-funder)
- Forestry Commission Scotland (Co-funder)
- Scottish Government (Co-funder)
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Co-funder)
- Natural Environment Research Council (Co-funder)
- Sentomol (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Roger Moore (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | 1. Attractant botanicals can be used to increase the efficiency of trap catches of the large pine weevil. 2. Repellant botanicals can lower the capture of the large pine weevil in pitfall traps. 3. Biocontrol agents can significantly lower the number of large pine weevils caught in traps. 4. Biocontrol agents can be used in the field to kill significant numbers of the large pine weevil. 5. Metarhizium (anisopliae) brunneum strains shown to be pathogenic to adult stages of pine weevil (PW). 6. Novel finding: Metarhizium mycelium but not conidia (infective unit) repels PW adults. 7. Lure and Kill strategy works for PW but there is a need to reduce dependency on billets (bulky, heavy, costly to deploy). New, lightweight traps have been developed with support from industry partners. 8. Attractants can be used to mass trap pine weevil (PW) adults or lure the pest to a control agent. 9. A new lightweight surface trap can be used as part of a lure and kill strategy, with attractants luring weevils into the trap, bringing them into contact with the fungus Metarhizium and resulting in high levels of infectivity of individuals entering the traps. Dissemination of biological control agents outside traps has been shown and auto-dissemination amongst PW adults in the wider environment is suspected. |
| Exploitation Route | The traps that have been developed can now be used in the field to monitor populations and, hopefully, it will soon be possible to use them to predict the likelihood of plant damage for forestry pratitioners. They could also be used for auto-dissemination of bio-control agents to actively reduce damaging populations in the forest but some further research work will be required to evaluate their potential in this regard and approvals for use obtained before they can be used in this way. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| Description | Commercial strains of the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum (anisopliae), distributed in the UK by Fargro Ltd, have been shown to be highly pathogenic to Hylobius in the field. May lead to potential new markets and increased sales. Semiochemicals identified which could be used to improve pest (PW) monitoring or manipulate their behaviour to improve control. New traps have been developed which may open up new markets for industrial partners eg Sentomol. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Improved forest industry understanding and management of the Hylobius problem |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Acceptance by forest managers and policymakers that insecticides are not the only way to reduce tree restocking losses from Hylobius feeding, that non-pesticide alternatives such as biological control agents and better monitoring of populations can play their part and that by taking up these options reductions in chemical usage and restocking success can still be achieved. A commitment by the forest industry for greater adoption of non-chemical alternatives for tree protection from Hylobius. |
| Title | Hylobius multi-purpose surface trap |
| Description | A trap that can be placed on the ground to capture the large pine weevil (LPW) to monitor numbers, to catch large numbers of the insect and contain bio-control agents to function as a lure and kill bait station to reduce LPW populations. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | A better tool for asessing the size of Hylobius populations than currently available. May also be useful for testing the attraction of attractant and repellent compounds for use in LPW control strategies and as plant protection agents. The trap facilitates contact between Hylobius weevils and biocontrol agents and has been shown to result in high levels of infection by Metarhizium during the autumn of 2016. |
| Title | Hylobius pitfall trap |
| Description | Improved large pine weevil monitoring and/or trapping device |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | A better tool for asessing the size of Hylobius populations than currently available |
| Title | Laboratory arena for large pine weevil research: trap evaluation and compound testing. |
| Description | An indoor arena (2.4m x 2.4m) large enough to rapidly test designs for large pine weevil trapping and its behavioural responses to volatile compounds all year round. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The arena is allowing rapid testing of a range of trap types and trap modifications to improve efficiency of trapping rates for large pine weevil (LPW). It also enables year round testing of volatile compounds and blends under controlled conditions to determine their attractivity and repellency to LPW. |
| Description | Development of improved trapping systems for Hylobius monitoring and control |
| Organisation | Sentomol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Development of new trap designs and modifications in the laboratory and field testing to assess their efficacy as monitoring traps. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of a range of traps for modification and testing purposes. Input into design and development process. |
| Impact | A new type of pitfall trap for use to monitor Hylobius populations on clearfelled forestry sites. A new multi-purpose surface trap which can be used to monitor, mass trap and, in conjunction with bio-agents, control populations has also been developed and tested under controllled conditions in the lab. The trap is also being used to enable the testing of attractant and repellent botanicals under controlled laboratory conditions. This will help determine the most promising botanicals/ compounds for increasing capture and/ or protecting forest trees, respectively. The trap was field tested during late summer 2016 and in conjunction with attractants provided good 'visitation' by adult weevils, high levels of 'throughput' and good levels of bio-control amongst individual weevils visiting the trap and coming into contact with bio-control agents. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | 'FR BIPESCO- Hylobius' presentation given to Natural Resources Wales on 17/11/16 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on 'FR BIPESCO- Hylobius' given to Natural Resources Wales on 17/1/16 and subsequent discussions to update NRW on the current 'state-of-play' with Hylobius and the potential being demonstrated by biological agents to control Hylobius. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | 'Pests - Current research and horizon scanning', Forest Health Days, Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on 'Pests - Current research and horizon scanning' at two forest industry, 'Forest Health Days' in Scotland which covered Hylobius work on the BIPESCO project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/beeh-ahpfyk |
| Description | A presentation at the Royal Entomological Society Postgraduate Forum 2017, University of Sheffield |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A presentation was given on 'New Solutions for an Old Pest: Biological Control of the Large Pine Weevil' as part of the Royal Entomological Society Postgraduate Forum 2017 (2-3 Feb), University of Sheffield. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | A talk entitled "New Solutions for an Old Pest: Biological Control of the Large Pine Weevil (Hylobius abietis)" given at Royal Entomological Society Forest Insect Group Meeting, Fera, York, 25 April, 2017. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Stimulating increased interest in research and possible collaborations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | A talk was given that included BIPESCO Hylobius biocontrol research at Edinburgh Entomological Club (Edinburgh University), 21st February, 2018. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Stimulated interest in the research and in pursuing careers in research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | BIPESCO - An overview of recent FR Hylobius bio-control research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on 'BIPESCO - An overview of recent FR Hylobius bio-control research' was given at the Forest Research, Programme 2 Science Update Seminar, NRS, Edinburgh. This was to provide an overview of the Hylobius work and results coming out of the BIPESCO programme to forest industry policy makers, funders and fellow research scientists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Forest Enterprise Scotland Planners & Programme Managers Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Forest Enterprise Scotland Planners & Programme Managers Meeting an update on Hylobius and current and future options for weevil control |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Forestry Commission Scotland Conservators visit to Forest Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Forestry Commission Conservators to outline current work and development research on Large Pine Weevil, Hylobius abietis |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Hylobius abietis research discussion project for FR's Business Development & Partnerships Autumn training/workshop, NRS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A short presentation given on the Hylobius abietis research including as part of BIPESCO to FR's Business Development & Partnerships Autumn training/workshop, NRS. The aim of this was to highlight the research and explore the possibility for further funding of this work and spin-outs, as well as use it as an example for discussions on other projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Hylobius, BIPESCO update to FREB |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An overview of the Hylobius work being undertaken on the BIPESCO program to the Forest Research Executive Board (members from all UK) at Forest Research, Northern Research Station. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Poster entitled "Entomopathogenic Fungus (Metarhizium brunneum, Met52®) interferes with Pine Weevil (Hylobius abietis) attraction to Billet Stacks in a Field Evaluation of a Lure-and-Kill control strategy" presented at International Symposium on Biopesticides Swansea University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Stimulating increased interest in the work |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.swansea.ac.uk/biosci/researchgroups/biocontrolandnaturalproductsgroup/banp/newsevents/sym... |
| Description | Poster entitled "Developing effective 'lure and kill' strategies for biocontrol of the large pine weevil in conifer forests" presented by Moore et al. at Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Initiative (THAPBI) Dissemination Event, at Radisson-Blu Edwardian, London- 7 February, 2018. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | THABPI end of Project Dissemination event for stakeholders and funders with networking and dissemination of outcomes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Royal Scottish Forestry Society meeting at Forest Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation given on 'Recent developments and current work on Large Pine Weevil, Hylobius abietis' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talk entitled 'A Tale of Two Beetles'- discussed the impact of Hylobius on Scottish forestry, our biocontrol research and current and potential management strategies". At Aberdeen and Dundee Entomological Club (James Hutton Institute), 14 November, 2017. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Stimulating Interest in research. Students interested in research careers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Talk entitled: "Managing the risk from Hylobius abietis: promising developments and future work"- included BIPESCO work was given at the Seminar: "Managing the risk from Hylobius", Birnam Arts Centre, Dunkeld, 17 August 2017. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Influenced restocking management policy by forestry practitioners for the management of large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |