La Processionaria dei Pini nei boschi della dorsale appenninica della Calabria

The results of a study carried out on the Pine Processionary moth [Traumatocampa (=Thaumetopoea) pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller)] in Calabria (Italy) during 1997-98 are reported. The preliminary aim of this investigation was to assess the presence of the lepidopteran in the main pinewoods of the Calabrian Apennine ridge. The research started with a census, conducted in 1997, of the areas where the Processionary moth was present; in the second year (1998) male flight dynamics were monitored using pheromone traps in 26 selected sites. Besides, during the first year the infestation levels were measured, recording the percentage of infested plants as well as the number of nests on 10 infested trees randomly chosen. The correlation coefficient of the above-mentioned parameters was measured in order to be able to optimize the monitoring system. The data collected confirmed that the Pine Processionary caterpillars adapt their own biology and ethology to the different altitudes and to the various climatic conditions of the Calabrian pinewoods. Pure pinewoods were more infested than the mixed ones, besides artificial woods were more susceptible to the attacks of the moth than the natural ones. The parameters that were measured (% of infested plants and number of winter nests per plant) were positively and significantly correlated. Male captures were higher at elevations ranging from 0 to 400 m and peaked in August up to 800 m and at the beginning of July between 800 and 1400 m. Statistical analysis showed that the number of nests per plant is not significantly related to the number of male captures during the following season.