2021

LVM Starts Dioryctria abietella Schiff. Butterfly Monitoring

A significant yield of cones is expected in the plantations managed by LVM Sēklas un stādi (LVM Seeds and Seedlings); however, there are a number of different dangers in nature that can damage or even completely destroy the yield. One of such potential pests is the Dioryctria abietella Schiff. butterfly; therefore, it is important to identify the extent of potential damage in advance.

In order to identify the extent of damage done by Dioryctria abietella Schiff., this butterfly is being monitored in ten spruce seed plantations for the first time in the entire history of Latvian forestry.

“In the course of the monitoring, pheromones that attract male Dioryctria abietella Schiff butterflies are placed in spruce seed plantations. Pheromones are placed in tent-type “houses”, and male butterflies adhere to the sticky floor of these houses. The effect of pheromones lasts for about 40 days,” tells Justs Lukins, Seed Production Manager at LVM Sēklas un stādi.

The author of the photos: Juris Trimalnieks

The experiment started on 16 June in ten spruce seed plantations: Katvari, Liepa, Liuza, Remte, Stradi, Suntaži, Svente, Tadaine, Tirza and Vecumi. Depending on the area of the plantation, 8 to 30 pheromone traps have been set up in each of these plantations. The first results of the first five days show that no Dioryctria abietella Schiff butterflies have been found in the Tirza and Stradi plantations.