Tim Wardlaw, Forest Biology Principal Research Officer
Peter Hopson, Business and Communications Manager, Division of Forest Research and Development
A new approach to controlling insect pests could significantly reduce aerial spraying in plantations.
Research trials of lethal trap trees to protect young growing trees from insect attack were highlighted at the Forestry Tasmania Division of Forest Research and Development (DFRD) annual review held at Maydena late last month.
As part of the review more than 30 scientific and technical staff along and senior staff visited the Lethal Trap Tree project in the Florentine area.
The project is a first for the forestry industry. It involves planting small areas of Eucalyptus regnans and E. delegatensis in E. nitens plantations. E. regnans and E. delegatensis are more `palatable’ and therefore attractive to leaf beetles than the surrounding E. nitens.
In the next few months the trap trees will be injected with insecticide to make them lethal to the leaf beetles that feed on the leaves. The aim is to reduce the population of leaf beetles sufficiently to protect the surrounding plantation. If successful, this approach would greatly reduce the amount of chemical used compared with aerial spraying. It would also greatly reduce the risk to non-target species.
It is hoped further research will identify the natural chemicals that attract leaf beetles to particular trees. We could then potentially use these chemicals to make any tree a trap tree or perhaps even make artificial traps.
The project was developed by entomologist Dr Jane Elek after she undertook an extensive review of research into options for better managing leaf beetles.
The research showed the lethal trap tree approach had the greatest potential on the basis of:
Forestry Tasmania does not use pesticides in native forests. They are applied in plantations in response to pest infestations.
The DFRD annual review also included a visit to an aggregated retention coupe a research trial on organic fertilisers and a trial testing plantation growth and water use models.
Native forest specialist Mark Neyland highlighted the recent movement away from the practice of clear felling old growth forests. He showed examples of island aggregates that provide habitat for biodiversity, and natural seeding for new forest following a burn of the harvested area.
The second day of the review was held at Forestry Tasmania’s latest tourist attraction, the Eagles’ Eyrie above Maydena. It included presentations by DFRD staff that highlighted the amount, diversity and quality of research being undertaken by the department. The presentations also showed how research is helping to improve harvesting methods and responsible landscape management.
Branchline August 24, 2009
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