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Themes: Pests and diseases

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261 Search Results

  • Publications
    Forestry publication document

    Pine processionary moth – Pest Alert
    Lead Author: Forestry Commission
    Pine processionary moth is a serious pest of pine trees in southern Europe. The moth larvae (caterpillars) feed on pine needles and defoliate trees, which reduces tree growth and timber production. Large numbers of larvae can cause severe damage – weakening the trees sufficiently to make them vulnerable to other pests and diseases and, in […]
  • Publications
    Forestry publication document

    Chestnut blight – Pest Alert
    Lead Author: Forestry Commission
    Chestnut blight is a serious disease of chestnut trees caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. The fungus does little damage to host trees in its native range in Asia, but has devastated American chestnut when it was accidentally introduced to the USA more than 100 years ago via infected planting stock. The disease was introduced […]
  • Publications
    Forestry publication document

    The influence of climate change on forest insect pests in Britain
    Lead Author: David Wainhouse
    Predicting future risks of damage by insect pests is an important aspect of forest management. Climate change has the potential to affect forest pests and their impact on trees through higher temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. Warmer temperatures are likely to have complex effects on insects, influencing, among other things, […]
  • Research

    Understanding the threat posed by Phytophthora austrocedri to juniper in Britain

     Phytophthora austrocedri is causing widespread mortality of native juniper in northern Britain. This project aims to provide the evidence base to guide juniper conservation strategies that mitigate the effects of the pathogen.
  • Publications
    Forestry publication document

    Path Note 16 Neonectria
    Lead Author: Forestry Commission
    Pathology note This document details signs and symptoms of the named tree pest(s) or disease(s) and provides advice on what to do if you suspect the pest or disease is present. Related pages Research and advice on tree pests and diseases Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service Tree pest and disease posters
  • Publications

    Do non-native conifer plantations provide benefits for a native forest specialist, the wood ant Formica lugubris?
    Lead Author: Duncan Procter
    Recent research by Forest Research scientists and colleagues at the University of York shows that northern hairy wood ants (Formica lugubris) have successfully colonised plantations of largely non-native coniferous species in the North York Moors National Park. The studies show that there has been a remarkable expansion of the population of this ant into new […]
  • Research

    Global threats from Phytophthora spp. (PHYTO-THREATS)

     The PHYTO-THREATS project aims to address the risks to UK forest and woodland ecosystems from Phytophthora by examining the distribution and diversity of Phytophthoras in UK plant nursery systems.
  • Research

    Red Squirrels United

     Red Squirrels United brings together partners from across the UK to deliver red squirrel conservation. As part of this effort, Forest Research is undertaking a public attitudinal survey to understand levels of awareness of squirrel conservation issues and attitudes towards management methods.
  • Research

    Early detection of tree health pests and pathogens

     Forest Research social scientists are exploring how early detection technologies can be developed better in partnership with practitioners and industry representatives who may wish to take such technologies forward to commercial application.
  • Publications
    Forestry publication document

    Xylella fastidiosa – Pest Alert
    Lead Author: Forestry Commission
    Xylella fastidiosa is a disease-causing bacterium that affects a wide range of important woody plants and broadleaved trees. It invades the xylem vessels that transport water throughout plants, and causes symptoms ranging from leaf scorch to tree dieback and death. In the natural environment it is transmitted by xylem-fluid feeding insects such as leafhoppers. Until […]
  • Publications
    Forestry publication document

    Plane wilt (canker stain disease) Pest Alert
    Lead Author: Forestry Commission
    Plane wilt, also known as canker stain disease, is a serious disorder of plane trees, which are important amenity trees in the parks and avenues of many European cities. The disease is caused by the fungus Ceratocystis platani, which is present in the USA and Europe, but considered to be indigenous only to North America. […]
  • Research

    Biodiversity and rotation length

     Investigate how to incorporate biodiversity into an optimal rotation length model through literature review and data re-analysis of biodiversity links with stand age.
  • Research

    Future Proofing Plant Health

     The Future Proofing Plant Health project aims to provide evidence for the implementation of the GB Plant Biosecurity Strategy. It will focus on strategic areas related to new and emerging pests and diseases (prevention, detection, control, resilience), as well as identifying priority pests, diseases and pathways.
  • Publications

    In plantadetection used to define the distribution of the European lineages of Phytophthora ramorumon larch (Larix) in the UK
    Lead Author: K. M. King
    UK distribution of Phytophthora ramorum evolutionary types provided by new testing method By developing a new molecular-based testing method based on PCR techniques, Forest Research scientists have been able to examine the distribution of the two main lineages of Phytophthora ramorum responsible for the major epidemic on larch (Larix spp.) in the UK. In a […]
  • Publications

    Hot-water treatment as a possible method for eradicating Chalara fraxinea (Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus ) infection from ash fruits (Fraxinus excelsior L )
    Lead Author: Shelagh McCartan
    Treating ash seeds with hot water may kill Chalara infection Immersing ash seeds in 44°C water for 5 hours may eradicate Chalara infection in ash seeds without significantly reducing the viability of the seeds. Forest Research scientists have published the results of this trial in Quarterly Journal of Forestry. Batches of ash fruits were subjected […]
  • Publications
    Forestry publication document

    Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp
    Lead Author: Simon Morath
    News of a recent unwelcome discovery and how ‘citizen science’ can play an important role in surveying and identification. An overview of the 2015 discoveries of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Oriental chestnut gall wasp; OCGW) in European sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) trees in Farningham Woods, Kent and St Albans, Hertfordshire, was published in Quarterly Journal of Forestry. […]
  • Research

    Pine-tree lappet moth

     This project is exploring the threat to UK forestry posed by the Pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini) and whether it is an introduced pest species or a previously undiscovered resident.
  • Research

    Oak processionary moth

     This project will improve our understanding of how oak processionary moth populations behave in different habitats, which is essential for effective management, and it will provide information on parasitoids and predators that may be useful in biological control of the pest.