Factors of biological regulation of Siberian moth populations and their use for forest protection

Abstract

The article describes the main stages in the development of biological methods for protecting forests from the caterpillars of the Siberian moth Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv. in Russia, from the first half of the 20th century to the present. It has been shown that the use of bacterial preparations is of the greatest importance in the practice of forest protection; Lepidocide is currently the most widely used biopesticide. Previously, there was a viral preparation as a means of protection, but currently there are no viral preparations approved for use. Information on the development of fungi preparations is given, but it is emphasized that effective and reliable fungi preparations have never been available to combat this pest. A detailed historical analysis of the development of the classical biological control in forest protection from the Siberian moth is given. Cases of successful use of the egg parasitoid Telenomus tetratomus Kieffer and the technology by which this entomophage was used are described. The reasons are discussed that the use of this species has not become an important part of the biological protection system of taiga forests. The authors are convinced that the use of such biological agents of forest protection as entomophages, pathogenic fungi and viruses is possible only in those cases when suitable technologies of application and bio-production will be developed for each of them. Bacterial preparations are widely used in the practice of forest protection from Siberian moth due to the well-developed production technology, and the similarity of the technology of their use with chemical pesticides, while guaranteeing a reliable result.

Keywords

• dendrolimus sibiricus tschetv.
• biologics
• entomophages
• biological protection