Effect of forest fertilization on pine needle-feeding Coleoptera.

• Main Authors: Heliövaara, Kari, Löyttyniemi, Kari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Finnish Society of Forest Science 1989-01-01
• Series: Silva Fennica
• Online Access: https://www.silvafennica.fi/article/5390

The effects of forest fertilizers on the intensity of damage caused by two curculionid ( L., Paykull) and two chrysomelid ( Duft., L.) species feeding as adults on Scots pine ( L.) needles were investigated in two pine stands growing on dry ( type) sites in South-West Finland. There was much variation in the abundance of the insect species both between the trials and the sample plots. Nitrogen fertilization increased both the height and radial growth of the pines. The curculinids were slightly more abundant on the nitrogen-treated plots. Potassium application seemed to decrease the feeding intensity of the chrysomelids especially. The overall effects were so small that forest fertilization cannot be considered as an effective control method against needle-feeding beetles.Brachyderes incanusBrachonyx pinetiCalomicrus pinicolaCryptocephalus piniPinus sylvestrisCalluna