An effective barrier net for the prevention and control of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire
Author of the article:JIANG Qi WANG Chang-Min LIU Yu-Jie LUO You-Qing REN Li-Li
Author's Workplace: Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Yanqing Forestry Protection Station, Beijing 102100, China
Key Words:Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire; Fraxinus pennsylvanica; barrier net; control effect; control cost
Abstract:
[Objectives] Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire is a
cryptic and highly destructive wood-boring pest that causes significant damage
to Ash trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) in the Yanqing district of
Beijing. The local forestry protection station has taken various measures to
prevent and control this damage, including the use of barrier nets, a new
method for protecting trees from A. planipennis. In order to evaluate the
effectiveness of barrier nets we compared the damage to Ash trees under
different A. planipennis management regimes and compared the costs of
these measures. [Methods] Damage
to Ash trees was monitored in three sample plots in Yanqing district employing
different A. planipennis control measures from 2017 to 2019. Barrier
nets were used to control A. planipennis in Plot 1. Management in Plot 2
consisted of planting other tree species after cutting down seriously damaged
ash trees whereas that in Plot 3 was confined to cutting down seriously damaged
Ash trees. Damage indices included dieback rate, crown vigor rating, the number
of bore holes, the quantity of epicormic branching and the amount of woodpecker
activity. The statistical significance of differences in damage indices among
the different plots was assessed using Tukey’s test and the average annual
control cost per hectare of plot was estimated for each method. [Results] The survival rate of Ash trees in Plot 1
(100%) was higher than that in Plot 2 (80%) and Plot 3 (34%). Moreover, all
damage indices were significantly lower in Plot 1 than in Plot 2 and Plot 3.
The annual control cost per unit area for Plot 1 was 2 150 yuan/hm2,
less than half the cost for Plot 2 (5 625 yuan/hm2) and Plot 3 (5 720
yuan/hm2). [Conclusion] Using barrier nets to protect Ash trees from A.
planipennis is both more effective and significantly cheaper than other
methods. We suggest that this kind of integrated pest management be combined
with other pollution-free control technologies in the future.