Newsletter nº 2 / December 2015 LIFE13 ENV/ES/000504

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1 Newsletter nº 2 / December 2015 INNOVATIVE ECO FRIENDLY TRAPS FOR THE CONTROL OF PINE LEPIDOPTERA IN URBAN AND RECREATIONAL PLACES. LIFE13 ENV/ES/

2 Stanislaw Kinelski, Polish Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org What is LIFE PISA Project about? The Pine Processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) and Pine Lappet (Dendrolimus pini) are moths of the families Thaumetopoeidae and Lasiocampidae, and are abundant species found in pine woods in north, central and southern Europe, and a major economic pest causing human and pet health problems (allergies, skin illness, etc). The species are notable for the behaviour of its caterpillar larvae, which overwinter in tentlike nests high in pine trees, and which process through the woods in nose-to-tail columns, protected by their severely irritating hairs. Thaumetopoea pityocampa nest Current methods to control this infestation have some limitations to control medium-large amounts of them and/or they are expensive. This project aims to demonstrate and improve monitoring and control using new methods combined with traditional systems applied in urban or recreational areas in 4 countries (Spain, Italy, UK and Greece), where large-scale aerial or targeted insecticide application is not possible; and to improve current traps systems to increase significantly their effectiveness, reduce cost and to be adapted to each selected demonstrative urban pine areas. Dendrolimus pini nest

3 Ojectives Decrease populations of pine Processionary and pine Lappet in demonstration areas. Significantly reduce irritating injuries and allergic reactions. Deploy traps with minimal visual effect that are non-damaging to other forest animals and plants. Optimize an innovative trunk barrier device for easy installation and removal. Improve the design and efficiency of pheromone traps. Study efficiency of Mating Disruption (MD) techniques. Life cycle Fulfill Directive 2009/128/CE: rational use of chemical pesticides. Transfer knowledge to forest pest control authorities, town halls, neighbourhood associations. 3

4 Project PARTNERS Asociación de Investigación de Materiales Plásticos y Conexas AIMPLAS (Spain). Benaki Phytopathological Institute (Greece). Forestry Commission Research Agency (UK). Regione Molise (Italy). Sansan Prodesing S.L. (Spain). University of Molise (Italy). Scheme of the LIFE PISA project University of Thessaly (Greece). 4

5 About LIFE + programme 18 Month Meeting in Benaki, Greece LIFE+ is the EU s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU, as well as in some candidate, acceding and neighbouring countries. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 4171 projects, contributing approximately 3,4 billion to the protection of the environment. Source: LIFE PISA project belongs to the Environment Policy and Governance Section and to the Chemicals sub-sector of the programme. Project grant agreement: LIFE13 ENV/ES 504. PROJECT BUDGET AND REQUESTED EU FUNDING The 18 Month Meeting of the project will take place next 9 th February 2016 at the Benaki Phytopathological Institute facilities in Benaki, Greece. During the meeting, the project consortium will show the final 1 st year results and will set the selection of the approaches for the 2016 season: - New design for trunk traps. - New design for adult traps. - Strategies for MD. - % of Objectives accomplished. In addition, different dissemination activities will be planned for the following months. Total project budget: 1,118,232 Total eligible project budget: 1,108,232 EU financial contribution requested: 554,116 (= 50.00% of total eligible budget) 5

6 Project website, new events. In the media The website of LIFE PISA project is already available through the link Up-dated information about the project can be found on the website. In addition, the website offers to visitors the possibility to see the forthcoming events related to LIFE PISA as well as a summary of past events. The LIFE PISA project has been disseminated by the LIFE PISA consortium in different media channels. A press release about the project was launched, with a great impact in the different media. Two workshops were organised: one in Campobasso- Italy (by University of Molise and the Molise Region) and another one in Volos- Greece (by the University of Thessaly and the Collaboration of Benaki Phytopatological Insitute). Both of them were covered by press and TV. A third workshop will be organised by Benaki Phytopathological Institute at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences next 10 th February More information is available in the Project web site: Partners will also participate in Trade Fairs. Some pictures will be included in the following newsletters. 6

7 Dissemination activities: events MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF PUBLIC GREEN. THE PROJECT LIFE PISA - July Council Chamber Termoli (Molise) Italy The goal of the conference was to inform and update institutions working in the field of public green and the public on the main issues of the damages on plants, humans and animals in environments urban and suburban areas. 7

8 Dissemination activities: events CONAMA environmental congress 18/09/2015 Málaga, Spain Showing a Poster. (AIMPLAS) 16th Hellenic Entomological Congress October 2015 Crete, Greece Showing a Poster, and Lecture by Prof. Athanassiou (UTH) 8

9 Dissemination activities: events LIFE PISA in the US LIFE PISA was presented during October 2015 at two of the major Research Centers of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Center for Grain and Animal Health Research Center in Manhattan, Kansas and the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Services Center, in Parlier California. Also, the outlines of the project were presented at Oklahoma State University last week (November 2015), by Prof. Christos Athanassiou, who coordinates the LIFE PISA research group at the University of Thessaly, Greece. Prof. Athanassiou will be working at the US until the end of 2015, ARS since September 2015, and, among other research activities, he works with insect trapping and pheromones. 9

10 Dissemination activities: events IBERFLORA Trade Fair October 2015 Valencia, Spain Showing a Poster and one of the prototypes. (SANSAN) Conference on management of Urban Trees 15/12/2015 Isernia, Molise, Italy Showing a Poster, Lecture of Prof Trematerra (UNIMOL) 10

11 Thank you! Next Newsletter: March 2016 CONTACT AIMPLAS Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico C/ Gustave Eiffel, 4 (València Parc Tecnológic) PATERNA (Valencia) - SPAIN Tel. (+34) proyectos@aimplas.es The development of this newsletter has been co-funded with the support of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union [LIFE13 ENV/ES/000504] 11