Variables Affecting the Pine Processionary Moth Flight: A Survey in the North-Western Italian Alps

The pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller), is one of the most economically important forest defoliators in southern Europe. This pest a univoltine oligophagous insect species, genus Pinus represents its main host. Investigations were carried out five-year period 2016–2020 NW Italy. PPM males monitored using commercial funnel traps baited with sex pheromone. infestation index was recorded by counting number nests per tree. Temperature rainfall automatically 94 georeferenced meteorological stations. Adult presence evaluated as maximum captured individuals day, total captures during season, Julian day at max captures, or first last captures. Environmental variables (altitude, cumulative rain, degree-days) biological parameters summarized principal component analysis. Our study showed that analyzed contribute to driving affecting population dynamics, which also exhibited year-to-year decrease. Due environmental sanitary importance, all data collected about will be useful develop predictive risk models, deploy countermeasures timely cost-effective manner.