OPM Pheromone Traps

[David Humphries]

Last year we got involved in the FR's Pheromone Trapping of OPM and Gypsy Moths.

Luckily for us nothing was found at our site.

Although this poor blighter (Black Arches) is closly related to the Gypsy and ended up stuck in the mud !

 

Did anyone else get involved and if so did you find anything of interest?

 

http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/fr/INFD-6W9JGQ

[David Humphries]

Today, we be mostly putin up nice little des reses for the Lepidoptera community.

 

Although originally posted in February this year, I can't believe it's been a whole 12 months since getting involved in the Forestry Comissions trapping program for the Oak processionary, and Gypsy Moths.

 

It's obviously very London specific for the OPM, but I wondered if anyone else has got involved in this six week project?

 

 

 

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[David Humphries]

So..........

 

three summers in to the trapping, we've just got our first Oak Processionary Moth, positively Id'd by Forest Research

 

Quite supprised that it has taken 3 years to span the mere 10.3 miles between Kew & Hampstead.

 

I'm wondering if this is the furthest one has been reported?

 

Fortunately, this one is only a male

 

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[David Humphries]

been a while but we're back on the trapping program with the FC

 

Nests are appearing closer to our site than before !

 

 

Males Oak Processionary Moths are flying for the next 6 weeks, so traps to be checked & reset weekly over that period.

 

As opposed to installing at between 5 & 10m (as in the past) study has now shown that traps are better at attracting the male moth between 10 & 15m

 

a blessing that we now have srt

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[Daniël Bos]

Is the trapping just to try and identify numbers/density or is it pest control?

[David Humphries]

Just looking at the spread of the moth

 

 

 

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[Daniël Bos]

Just looking at the spread of the moth

 

 

 

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Thanks, I asked as the Mother in-law has pheromone traps in her apple orchard as a control measure and she reckons they're very effective so I wondered if such could be scaled up to make meaningful difference in the battle against opm.

[David Humphries]

I don't believe I've read anything on effectiveness against OPM other than direct removal of nests & application of targeted insecticide

 

 

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[Marc]

Imam worried that it is a losing battle, I thought OPM was not going to be a problem but here of them turning up everywhere, a few sites around Reading now with OPM.

[David Humphries]

Going to a big growing issue Marc.

 

Think it's now more about control & containment in areas where the nests are known and proactive management where it's not yet established.

 

Missed the boat on eradication I think

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