Progress never stands still - new technologies, new methods. But sometimes it's surprising that humans can fly into space and build tunnels under water, yet can't overcome small insect pests. Nature cannot be deceived - as one harmful species declines, others emerge. In recent years, outbreaks of pine sawflies in the Forest-Steppe zone have been replaced by outbreaks of web-spinning sawflies, which are nearly impossible to combat or require special technologies. This is because they live a hidden life inside web nests, and insecticides cannot immediately affect the larvae.
In Kharkiv region, outbreaks of web-spinning sawflies appeared in SE "Izyum Forestry". Today, specialists from SSFPE "Kharkivlisozakhyst" together with forest protection staff of SE "Izyum Forestry" of Kharkiv Regional Forestry Management conducted experimental production works in the mass reproduction area of star and red-headed web-spinning sawflies, covering a total area of 626 hectares.
Two preparations were tested along with adding surfactants to the working solution that create an air-impermeable film on the nests. The larvae are then forced to leave their nests to continue their life activities, where they begin feeding on poisoned needles and perish. Now forest protection staff are constantly monitoring the experimental areas and observing the dynamics of pest larvae mortality.