Entomophaga maimaiga in Europe: the story so far Gy. Csóka 1 ; M. Zubrik 2 ; B. Hrasovec 3 ; M. Tabakovic-Tosic 4 ; A. Kunca 2 ; A. Hirka 1 ; M. Pernek 3 ; M. Glavendekic 4 ; M. Dautabasic 5 ; G. Georgiev 6 ; M. Georgieva 6 ; A. Hajek 7 ; D. Goertz 8 and D. Pilarska 6 1 Hungary, 2 Slovakia, 3 Croatia, 4 Serbia, 5 Bosnia-Hercegovina, 6 Bulgaria, 7 USA, 8 Austria 5 th Meeting of Forest Protection Specialists and Forest Phytosanitary Specialists Vienna, Austria March 2014

Gypsy moth is a major forest health issue and an increasingly important human ecological problem in many European countries.

SPAIN - Over 200,000ha in some years GERMANY - The highest yealy value is 70,000ha BULGARIA - Over 300,000ha in some years CROATIA - Over 100,000ha in some years SERBIA – Close to 400,000ha in some years RUMANIA – Over 500,000ha in some years UKRAINE - The yearly average is 13,000ha SLOVAKIA - The highest yearly value is 16,000ha HUNGARY - The „national record” is over 200,000ha AUSTRIA – Several 1,000 ha in some years

Predicted future distribution of gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar ) by CLIMEX in Europe using average global temperature increase of 3.6°C. Black circles indicate ecoclimatic indices (EI) at meteorological stations. Larger circles represent higher EI values and more favourable climatic conditions for L. dispar. Shaded area represents current distribution of gypsy moth (Vanhanen et al 2007)

To spray or not to spray?  Symptomatic treatments.  Expensive.  Even the nature-friendly technologies have too severe side effects.  Increasing conservation issues.  The EU is considering to ban any aerial application.  So we are dreaming of a strictly host specific and effective biological control agent.

Orthosia schmidtiiErannis ankerariaEriogaster catax „Natura 2000 indicator species” (protected in the EU) living in habitats overlapping with GM habitats

Introductions of Entomophaga maimaiga to Europe Bulgaria sites Serbia sites

First records of EM by countries Bosnia-Hercegovina2013 (natural spread) Bulgaria1996 (introduction) Croatia2013 (natural spread) Georgia2005 (natural spread) Greece2012 (natural spread) Hungary2013 (natural spread) Macedonia2012 (natural spread) Serbia2011 (introduction+natural spread) Slovakia2010 (natural spread) Turkey2011 (natural spread)

Permit for the introduction of Enomophaga maimaiga in Bulgaria issued by Ministry of Environment and Water Management in 1999.

1999 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction

2005 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction

2005 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction Ca. 1,000 miles

2008 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction

2009 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction

2010 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction

2011 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction

2012 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction

2013 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction ??? Unexpected distances ( km) from the closest Serbian introduction site.

back to 2010 documented deliberate introduction recorded occurrance without introduction Čifare

Forest area infested yearly by GM in Bulgaria before and after the introduction of EM

In 2012 EM caused collapse of GM outbreak in the culmination phase on 8,000 ha forest land in Serbia. Similar „premature collapse” happened in Hungary in several thousand hectares of forests in 2013.

What about the undesired side effects?

Harlequin lady bird ( Harmon i a ax y ridis )

Many questions to be answered… -EM can be considered as a competitive handicap for GM. Will the other oak herbivores (geometrids, tortricids, sawflies, etc.) benefit from this fact in longer term? -How will the climate change influence the impact of EM on GM? -How will EM indirectly influence the natural enemies of GM (parasitoids, predators). …and so on.

SUMMARY  GM moth is a major forest health and human ecological issue in many European countries.  Its area will be likely to expand due to the climate change.  Its forest health importance is likely to grow both directly (more frequent and severe defoliations) and indirectly (more severe „damage chains” triggered).  Traditional aerial control is becoming more and more unacceptable.  Two countries (Bulgaria and Serbia) have introduced EM in Europe in many waves (between 1996 and 2013).  EM has spread west- and northwards at an unexpected speed and for an unexpected distance (ca. 250 miles in 2 years).

SUMMARY (continued )  EM caused dramatic mortality in many CE-European GM populations.  The long term impact on forest health will probably be far more beneficial than harmful.  The strict host specificity must be proven convincingly on national levels.  National, bi-, and multilateral research projects are being formed.  An Europe-wide cooperative research proposal has just been submitted.

Thanks for your attention! This is just the beginning…