INTEGRATED PEST-MANAGEMENT OF FOREST DEFOLIATORS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED-STATES

A multitude of defoliating insect species occur in the temperature and sub-tropical forests of the southeastern U.S. Two groups, however, stand out as persistent, annual problems that demand the attention of forest pest managers. These are the tent caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) and the pine sawflies (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae). Pest-management tactics developed to date have involved population dynamics and modeling as well as biological and cultural controls. Sampling schemes using pheromone-baited traps provide an indication of relative population density for several important defoliator species. The use of traditional chemical controls has been inhibited by the diversity of forest fauna, economics, and environmental sensitivity. New pest problems are emerging and are a major focus of research efforts. This has been a result of shifts in resource usage as well as tree stress and subsequent predisposition to previously unimportant pest species.