Forest entomology unit

Forest entomology is applied ecology with its scientific roots in silviculture and population ecology of insects. The main focus in forest entomology is on the insect pests of the forests and how damage can be prevented or controlled. In later years the field of interest has been broadened to include the insect community in the forest ecosystem with a special focus on the dual role of dead wood as breeding material for pest species and a necessity for endangered saproxylic insects. The interaction between the insect and its host is of fundamental importance for the understanding of how insect outbreaks occur and develop, and how to avoid or counteract damage in the best possible way. Forest entomology is hence an interdisclipinary field of science with many links to units within and outside of the department.

The forest entomology group in May 2009

Research

The research activity at the unit changes dynamically and consists currently of more than a dozen of projects. At present, the following research areas dominate our activity.

The large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, is the most important forest insect pest in Sweden, causing annually large losses by killing newly planted seedlings in conifer reforestation areas. Large efforts are being made to replace the use of insecticides in seedling protection by other control methods based on mechanical seedling protection and silvicultural techniques.More information about past and current work on the pine weevil can be found in Swedish on the Pine weevil home page
- Current pine weevil projects 

The spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus. After the storm ”Gudrun” in January 2005 when ca 75 million m3 of mostly spruce blew down, bark beetle research became once again a hot research field. There is much current activity on the spruce bark beetle which developed epidemic population levels in the downed spruce trees, and so far has killed ca 3 million m3 of spruce forests in the storm-felled area. A spruce bark beetle home page is under construction containing more in formation in Swedish
- Current spruce bark beetle projects

Herbivorous insects and environmental change
Basic research about the ecology of herbivorous insects in relation to climate, host-plants and natural enemies is important to be able to understand how insects are affected by environmental changes, such as global warming
- Current research projects
 

Extension service

Extension service to the forestry sector in forest entomological matters is an important task for our unit, and we have a special extension officer (see above) at our staff  who is responsible for this activity. We also have an insect pest database for identifying and reporting of observed cases of forest damage, see SKOGSSKADA (In Swedish only).

Publications

Publications from the unit can be found under ”Publications” on the departmental front page or at the individual staff home pages.

Collections

The Department of Ecology houses collections of birds, mammals and insects. About 10 000 species of insects are represented. A collection of wood material showing galleries of saproxylic insects is unique. Most of the native Swedish birds and mammals can be seen in the entrance hall. The collections are used for taxonomic research, as reference material for ecological and conservation biology research, as a basis for producing illustrations, and for teaching purposes.