Hylobius Programme

• In the short/medium term to expand the range of options available for managers to address the threat of Hylobius abietis and in the medium/long-term move to a more integrated approach to Hylobius abietis management.

• Ultimately, to remove Hylobius abietis as a limiting factor to the re-establishment of productive conifers – with an aspiration for this to be achieved by management no longer reliant on application of pesticides.

The partnership has scoped the opportunities and identified six priorities/outcomes over the next five years:

1. Develop an improved predictive Hylobius abietis population model, appropriate for use in all forest situations.
2. Create a regularly updated guide on Hylobius abietis integrated pest management for use by all stakeholders across the sector.
3. Develop alternatives to chemicals that work in areas of high Hylobius abietis population, including physical barrier products.
4. Develop a viable biocontrol option – using insect pathogenic organisms such as fungi and nematodes that prey on and kill Hylobius abietis.
5. Using tree genetics to identify resistance characteristics in SS with a view to breeding more resistant planting stock.
6. Identify a range of alternative, weather resistant, non-neonicotinoid pesticides, that have low environmental impact, and that might be used as a last resort if other methods on non-chemical protection fail.

The HIRP in partnership with the Scottish Forestry Trust aims to raise funds to continue research in this area. 

The large pine weevil, or Hylobius abietis has a voracious appetite for young conifer trees and is the biggest single threat to newly planted conifers on restocking sites, it will also kill young broadleaves. Just one weevil can kill an unprotected tree by stripping the bark around the stem.

Conservative estimates suggest that the annual direct costs to forest owners in the UK from pine weevil damage is likely to be in the region of £7 million each year.

More here.

• Cawdor Forestry
• Coillte
• Confor
• DAERA- Forest Service
• Forestry England
• Forestry and Land Scotland
• Forest Research
• Fountains Forestry
• Maelor Forest Nurseries