Recently, there has been a sharp increase in the areas affected by very dangerous phytophages, pine web-spinning sawflies, in the pine plantations of the Forest-Steppe and Steppe zones of Ukraine. Among the many species of sawflies damaging pine needles, the red-headed sawfly Acantholyda erythrocephala and the star sawfly Lyda nemoralis stand out.
Pine Sawflies: Dangerous Phytophages in Southeastern Steppe of Ukraine
Information about the appearance of these harmful insects emerged during forest pathological surveys conducted in April-June 2013 in the plantations of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv regional forest management units.
Dnipropetrovsk Regional Forest and Hunting Management
A mass outbreak of the red-headed sawfly occurred in 2013 over an area of 188 hectares in the plantations of the "Pavlohradske Forestry" enterprise. By the end of the year, the area had increased to 199 hectares. In 2015, no control measures were carried out due to a ban by the sanitary-epidemiological service.
Donetsk Regional Forest and Hunting Management
Damage to pine crowns by sawfly larvae was noted in May 2013 over an area of 53 hectares in the "Krasnolymanske Forestry" enterprise. No surveys were conducted in 2014 due to the anti-terrorist operation.
Luhansk Regional Forest and Hunting Management
A mass outbreak of pine sawflies occurred in the "Kreminske Forestry and Hunting Management" enterprise in spring 2013 over an area of 1,245 hectares. Significant damage was caused to pine plantations in the Novokrasnyanske forestry unit.
Kharkiv Regional Forest and Hunting Management
A mass outbreak of pine sawflies occurred in 2013 over an area of 185 hectares in the "Izium Forestry" enterprise. By spring 2014, the outbreak area had expanded to 1,039 hectares, requiring immediate control measures.
In May 2015, forest protection specialists conducted experimental treatments using aerosol technology and chemical insecticides. Despite the moderate effectiveness of the treatments, the survival of young pines was noticeable compared to untreated areas.
In May 2016, control measures were again carried out in the "Izium Forestry" enterprise over an area of 630 hectares using aerosol technology and chemical insecticides to preserve young pine plantations.
Timely detection and implementation of forest protection measures in mass outbreak areas of pine sawflies are crucial for preserving young pine plantations in the Forest-Steppe and Steppe zones of Ukraine.