Biology and damage of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) in the Anatolian black pine forest in Eldivan (Çankırı)

This M.Sc. thesis was carried out to determine biology and damage of the Pine Processionary Moth (PPM) [Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)], one of the most important forest pests in Turkey, between 2021 and 2022. The PPM larvae were observed to be in the nests on the Anatolian black pine trees during the field observations in April, and the larvae went into soil to pupate in the next weeks in May. The flight period of PPM adults was determined via pheromone traps. First adult catches of PPM adults in the pheromone traps were on August 19th in 2021 (4 moths/trap) and August 6th in 2022 (1.3 moths/trap). The highest trapped PPM adults were recorded on September 16th in 2021 (42 moths/trap) and August 29th in 2022 (27.3 moths/trap). The last trapped PPM adults were recorded on October 21st in 2021 (2.3 moths/trap) and October 3rd in 2022 (6 moths/trap). Results show that 187 PPM adults per trap were catched per trap in 2021 for 63 days period and 112 PPM adults per trap were catched per trap in 2022 during 61 days period. Thus, the flight period of PPM in Eldivan (Çankırı) was determined as a 2-month period.