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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.”

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.

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

 

Forestry Staff Dainton Katrina.90beb63b.fill 600x600 1

Katrina Dainton

BA, MSc
Research Entomologist
Tree health

NRS

Northern Research Station

Bush Estate

Roslin

Scotland

Related Research

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.

Status current
Themes
Tree health

Related Publications

Publication

The importance of trap type, trap colour and capture liquid for catching Dendrolimus pini and their impact on by-catch of beneficial insects

Monitoring traps for the pine-tree lappet moth were tested to find the most effective trap type and colour combination for adult moth capture.

Published

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.

Integrated forest management of Hylobius abietis Investigating the potential of Integrated Forest Management of Hylobius abietis to reduce chemical inputs.

Management of great spruce bark beetle An environmentally sound method of pest management to control an alien pest, the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans.

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.

Peer reviewed journal articles

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