During their forestry phytopathology training practice, third-year students of the forestry faculty visited the State Specialized Forest Protection Enterprise "Kharkivlisozakhyst" (Pokotylivka, Kharkiv region). Employees introduced the students to harmful local and invasive species for forest plantations (entomopests and phytopathogens), which already cause or may cause significant damage to forestry in case of non-compliance with phytosanitary control conditions at borders.

The tour on entomopests threatening our region’s plantations was conducted by the head of the forest protection laboratory, O.I. Nazarenko. Olena Ivanivna also spoke about an innovative biological method of forest protection against bark beetles, which is being implemented in production. Bark beetle larvae develop hidden within tree tissues, forming specific damage under the bark. The predatory beetle Thanasimus formicarius can locate and destroy bark beetle eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, ensuring the biological protection of trees. This year, the laboratory began breeding these predatory beetles.

The students and faculty members express their gratitude to the enterprise’s staff for their interesting and informative presentations, as well as to the faculty administration for facilitating this excursion.