Dr. Jeremy Allison, technical visiting for discussing and contributing in a research project and participating in a Special Topics course in the agricultural entomology graduating program (FCAV), as an expert in forest entomology in Canada

• Grant number: 15/04525-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: January 17, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Busoli
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Busoli
• Visiting researcher: Jeremy Allison
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Toronto (U of T), Canada
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pine stands are an important socioeconomic resource to Brazil and occupy 23.4% of the forest plantation area in that country. The main insect pest in this crop is the European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). It is an exotic insect which had its occurrence reported in Brazil in the 80's for the first time, currently present in more than 450,000 hectares. To precocious detect this pest it is recommended trap-trees. Such technique is efficient but can be onerous and its employment is under an issue due to the production cease of the herbicide used to stress the trees and making it attractive to the wasps. The alternative proposed in the present project is setting up traps with attractive lures for capturing the European woodwasp and consequently detect and monitor its occurrence. We will set up trials in Pinus taeda stands to compare the capturing capacity of this pest of different trap designs (funnel, modified funnel and panel); different natural lures, made with billets and foliage from four pine species (P. taeda, P. elliottii, P. patula e P. caribaea caribaea), and artificial lures made with pine volatiles (± and ²-pinene blends). Following the results it will be possible to suggest the ideal trap/lure combination for the Brazilian conditions and, to know if the currently available artificial lures play the appropriate attractiveness. In further studies will be possible to know and isolate the molecules which play such attraction, from the contrasting pine species. The present project will count on the collaboration of Embrapa Florestas, Klabin Florestal and Natural Resources Canada/Canadian Forest Service. (AU)