Effect of defoliation by Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) on annual diameter increment of Pinus brutia Ten. in Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the influence of defoliation by pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) on the annual diameter increment of Turkish Calabrian pine, Pinus brutia Ten. in Kahramanmaras province, Turkey, was investigated. The study was carried out between 1995 and 1998. During the four years, the defoliation of pine processionary moth caused a significant decrease (average 21% for four years, P < 0.05) in the annual diameter increment with respect to control, undefoliated trees. © INRA, EDP Sciences, 2005.