Enhancing Integrated Pest Management in Forestry
Author(s): Katrina Dainton
Katrina Dainton
BA, MSc
Katrina Dainton
BA, MScResearch Entomologist
Tree health
NRS, Northern Research Station, Bush Estate, Roslin, Scotland
About Katrina Dainton
Katy joined the Entomology team at Forest Research in June 2015, initially focusing on the development of biological and alternative control methods for the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis). Prior to this, she worked with Natural England in a short-term survey and monitoring role, following the completion of an MSc in Integrated Pest Management at Harper Adams University in 2014. Her career in forest entomology follows an earlier background in the arts and heritage sector. After completing a BA in Fine Art, Katy worked for the National Trust in the conservation care of historic houses and collections before retraining in applied entomology and pest management.
What Katrina does
Katy’s work centres on developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools and strategies for forest pests. She designs and tests monitoring techniques, and advances non-chemical and biological control methods for species including the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis), pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini) and great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans). Her role also involves horizon scanning to identify and assess emerging pest threats to British forests. Since 2018, Katy has managed the Rhizophagus grandis breeding programme at NRS, which supports the biological control of D. micans. In addition, she provides specialist advice on forest entomology and tree health issues in northern Britain. Alongside her role at Forest Research, Katy is undertaking a part-time PhD at the University of Edinburgh on “Enhancing Integrated Pest Management in Forestry.”
Affiliations
- Member of Royal Entomological Society
- Honorary Secretary of the Edinburgh Entomological Club
- Member of Butterfly Conservation
- Member of Royal Forestry Society
- Scientific advisor and member of Pine-tree lappet moth Management Group
Research
Other Research
Enhancing Integrated Pest Management in Forestry How do we manage insect pests in British forestry? This PhD project aims to evaluate current science and practise and develop and test new and improved methods in order to enhance integrated pest management in the industry.
Other Publications
Fielding, N. & Dainton, K. (2020). “Specific predator breeding programme to manage Dendroctonus micans”. FORESTRY & TIMBER NEWS, Issue 98, CONFOR.
Sukovata, L., Dziuk, A., Parratt, M., Bystrowski, C., Dainton, K., Polaszek, A. and Moore, R. (2020). The importance of trap type, trap colour and capture liquid for catching Dendrolimus pini and their impact on by-catch of beneficial insects. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 22, 319-327. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/afe.12383
Dainton, K., Pollard, C., Trotter, F., Paterson, A., Dunn, M., Marzano, M., Whiffin, A., Kendall, T. and Williams, D. (2023). Preliminary investigation into the threat of Bronze Birch Borer (BBB – Agrilus anxius) to Scotland: Project final report. PHC2020/06. Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Plant Health (PHC). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8255823
Dimmock, J., Bowsher-Gibbs, M., Blackmore, H., Thompson, S. and Dainton, K. (2023). A targeted analysis of the impact of insecticide withdrawals in Scotland, in the context of alternative control options: Project final report. PHC2021/06. Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Plant Health (PHC). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8129668
Steinke, S., Davidson, M. and Dainton, K. (2024). The biocontrol programme for managing Dendroctonus micans. Forestry & Timber News, Issue 122, CONFOR. https://www.confor.org.uk/news/ftn-magazine/ftn-april-2024/
Botham, M., Dainton, K., Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team, Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations, Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team, Tree of Life Core Informatics collective and the Darwin Tree of Life Consortium (2024). The genome sequence of the pine-tree lappet moth, Dendrolimus pini (Linnaeus, 1767) [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. Wellcome Open Research, 9, 538. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23053.1