EFFECTS OF SPINED SOLDIER BUG (HEMIPTERA-PENTATOMIDAE) AUGMENTATION AND STICKY BARRIER BANDS ON GYPSY-MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA, LYMANTRIIDAE) DENSITY IN OAK CANOPIES

The effects of sticky barrier bands, augmentative releases of the spin ed soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say), and the deployment of P. maculiventris pheromone on gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), larval d ensity in the canopy of oak trees were tested. Sticky barrier bands us ed alone reduced larval gypsy moth density by almost-equal-to 35%. The release of 5,810 P. maculiventris nymphs per tree or the deployment o f P. maculiventris pheromone to trees on which sticky barrier bands ha d been applied had no additional effect on gypsy moth larval density. None of the treatments affected the number of gypsy moth egg masses pr oduced. Significantly more P maculiventris adults were observed on tre es with the pheromnone, but higher numbers of nymphs were not subseque ntly observed on these trees. Counts of gypsy moths beneath burlap ban ds prior to gypsy moth pupation were about four tames higher on unband ed than on banded trees, but counts of pupae beneath burlap bands did not differ between treatments.