New guidance on Oak Processionary Moth trapping published

The pest Oak Processionary Moth is present in parts of London and Berkshire, and efforts to control it have become more sophisticated as those involved have gained experience.

Monitoring its distribution and spread is essential to its effective management, and pheromone trapping of adult males is one of the most effective tools in the kit of those charged with the task.

Done well, pheromone trapping can provide an end-of-season early warning of areas where larvae (caterpillars) might be expected to be found the following spring, enabling early planning of spring and summer surveying and treatment programmes.

Now a new practice note from the Forestry Commission provides guidance for practitioners on best practice and effective use of pheromone traps to monitor OPM populations.

Dr John Morgan, Head of the Forestry Commission’s Plant Health Service, said: "OPM is a serious tree pest whose larvae are capable of causing complete defoliation of oak trees, leaving them vulnerable to other threats. They are also a hazard to human and animal health, and if left uncontrolled, could make many of our parks and woodlands no-go areas for the public.

"The Government has made combating the threat from tree pests and diseases, including OPM, a priority, and it is essential that we tackle it with all the expertise we can muster. I therefore welcome this Practice Note as a valuable contribution to the continuing development of the skills and professionalism of the people involved."

Entitled 'Monitoring the oak processionary moth with pheromone traps', the Practice Note was written by Dr Nigel Straw, a senior entomologist with the Forestry Commission’s Forest Research agency.

It will be useful to forest and woodland managers, forestry practitioners, local authority tree and woodland officers, arboriculturalists and others involved with managing oak trees in OPM-affected areas. Outbreaks are located in West and South-West London; in Bromley and Croydon in South London; and in Pangbourne in Berkshire.

The Practice Note is available as a PDF to download free from What's New area of the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk/publications.

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