In Poland we started in 2014 with our first field experiments to test potential biocontrol agents against Gypsy moth. The gypsy moth Lymantria dispar is one of the most important pest insects of forests and orchards. It feeds on hundreds of tree and shrub species but prefers oak, lime, poplar and birch. See our website for more information: http://www.biocomes.eu/pest/gypsy-moth/update/gypsy-moth-january-2015/ These experiments are part of the BIOCOMES project. An EU project that aims to develop 11 biocontrol products and 2 production technologies for the control of different pests and diseases. See www.biocomes.eu for more information.

1. www.biocomes.eu
Gypsy moth
Field experiments
In the BIOCOMES project 27 partners
work together to produce 11 novel
biological control products to control
pests and diseases.
One of these pests is Gypsy moth.
Watch the following slides to get to
know more about Gypsy moth and our
activities to find a sustainable biocontrol
product for the control of this moth.

2. www.biocomes.eu
Gypsy moth
The gypsy moth Lymantria
dispar is one of the most
important pest insects of
forests and orchards. It feeds
on hundreds of tree and shrub
species but prefers oak, lime,
poplar and birch.

3. www.biocomes.eu
BIOCOMES Meeting, Graz, 4-5.11.2014
North side
South side

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BIOCOMES Meeting, Graz, 4-5.11.2014
In March we localized colonized trees

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From these colonized trees we collected
egg masses to check the presence of
wild virus as a natural antagonist in the
gypsy moth population

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BIOCOMES Meeting, Graz, 4-5.11.2014
After the egg mass collection the localised
trees were treated with entomopathogenic
virus suspensions

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In May treated and non-treated leaves
were collected

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BIOCOMES Meeting, Graz, 4-5.11.2014
Leaf collection

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The collected leaves were analysed in
the lab
The damage caused by the caterpillars appeared to be
reduced with a 2-3 fold after treatments with the virus
based suspension.

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We also collected caterpillars from
treated and non-treated trees to measure
the mortality rate

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The collected caterpillars were reared for
2 weeks to measure the mortality rate
The mortality rate of the caterpillars was a 3-4-fold higher
when the trees were treated with the virus based
suspension.

12. www.biocomes.eu
This presentation gave a quick overview of
the first field experiments we conducted in
2014 for the development of a product for the
biological control of Gypsy moth. The
experiments were conducted by the Polish
Forest Research Institute IBL, one of the 27
partners.
Visit our website to read more about our work
on Gypsy moth and the other 10 biological
control products we will develop.
www.biocomes.eu
The European Union is stimulating the
development of biological control products by
financing this BIOCOMES project. The
BIOCOMES project runs from 1 December
2013 until 30 November 2017. The EU
contribution is 8.997.264 and the total€
budget amounts 12.086.533.€