Evaluating non-target impacts of a population control strategy using insecticides

Sunday, November 13, 2022

9:36 AM – 9:48 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 301

Presenting Author(s)

VM

Véronique Martel

Research Scientist
Natural Resources Canada
Québec, Québec, Canada

Co-Author(s)

VG

Valentine Glaus

Université Laval
Québec, Québec, Canada
AN

Audrey Nisole

Natural Resources Canada
Québec, Québec, Canada
SE

Sarah Edwards

Forest Protection Limited
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
AD

Abdelmadjid Djoumad

Natural Resources Canada
Québec, Québec, Canada
VF

Valerie Fournier

Université Laval
Québec, Québec, Canada

The spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana, Clem. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae - SBW) is the most important defoliator of coniferous forests in North America. The Early Intervention Strategy (EIS) is a population management strategy studied in New Brunswick since 2014, aiming at preventing SBW outbreaks rather than just mitigating the impact once the outbreak is ongoing. The objective of this study is to determine if there is non-target impact of the treatments done in this context on the lepidopteran community and to compare these potential impacts of the two insecticides registered in Canada against the SBW: Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki (Btk) and tebufenozide. Fifiteen sites (treated with Btk or tebufenozide in 2018 and untreated) were sampled in New Brunswick in 2018 (they year the insecticide was applied) and 2019 (1 year after the insecticide treatment). The larvae were identified using molecular tools combining TaqMan and qPCR, and the presence of a paraisitoid was assessed. Although there was no difference in the Lepidoptera community, richness and diversity between the treated and control sites, some differences were detected between the two insecticides.