Pine Beauty Moths laying eggs
The photograph is courtesy of the family of George Dey. George took many forestry photographs in his forestry career and many are now shown on this web site. Check under ‘Groups’ and George Dey Collection.
A view of Pine Beauty (Panolis flammea) moths as they lay their eggs on the needles of the Lodgepole pine in Strathrannoch Forest. At this stage there is an indication of how many moths have successful hatched and how many eggs are being laid and again teams of skilled people used to count the numbers of pine tree shoots per tree which had eggs laid on them. Good eye sight was essential!
At this time also, or shortly after, pheromone traps were beginning to be used or trialled. A pheromone had been developed which attracted the male Pine Beauty moth. A small tent shaped structure with a base about the size of an A4 sheet with open ends was set up in various locations within the susceptible forest. The inside base of the tent had a very sticky floor in the middle of which the pheromone baited lured was placed. The male moths in the locality all gathered in the tent and stuck to the floor. Sometimes only a few and other times a great many indicating a problem was likely to arise.
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Groups: Animal, Insect, Plant and Fungal species in forestry, Forestry Areas, George Dey Forestry Collection