Staff
Roger Moore
BSc, PhD
BSc, PhD
Senior Entomologist (N), Centre for Ecosystems, Society & Biosecurity
Leads entomological research projects based at the northern research station. Roger’s work focuses on insect pests of forestry and especially two key pests: large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, and pine-tree lappet moth, Dendrolimus pini. The former is a native pest of forestry restocking and the latter a recently discovered insect which may be non-native and is a pest in other parts of Eurasia.
Research on Hylobius includes seeking alternative plant protection techniques (insecticides/ natural product/ physical barrier) and moving progressively towards biological control (nematodes/ fungi). Integrated forest management of this pest with efficient and synergistic use of these diverse approaches based on sound decision support systems is seen as key for future Hylobius control.
Roger’s research and experience have enabled him to develop two key strategies to help the forest industry combat Hylobius, the fallow strategy and the Hylobius Management Support System (HMSS); used since 2001 and 2009. His current focus is on biological control, improving HMSS and developing a forest spatial decision support system for Hylobius management.
He also leads research on the pine-tree lappet moth, Dendrolimus pini which includes the monitoring and surveillance program to establish population abundance, distribution and spread as well as assessing the risk it poses to UK forestry both now and in the future.
Dr Roger Moore joined Forest Research in 1993 having previously worked at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. He gained his PhD at the University of Lancaster in 1987. His entomological research has been on insects and insect pest species of forestry and agriculture and the impact of biological control, plant protection, atmospheric pollutants, current and future climate and habitat management on their abundance and distribution.
Scientific advisor and member of Pine-tree lappet moth Management Group
Organised and chaired an EU LIFE PISA meeting on pine processionary and pine-lappet moth.
Scientific advisor and member of Forestry Commission Hylobius Working Group
Organiser and chair of Hylobius Plant Protection Group
Work Package Leader: Surveillance and detection (in ‘understanding biotic threats to resilience’ programme)
Scientific advisor to the forest industry to represent their case to the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) International Pesticides Committee for the continued use of cypermethrin and alpha-cypermethrin for controlling weevils, in FSC-certified forests
Scientific advisor and member of review group for ‘a review of the use of cypermethrin and alpha-cypermethrin on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate’
Member of British Ecological Society
NRS
Northern Research Station
Bush Estate
Roslin
Scotland
Project determining the level of risk to Scots pine and other tree species posed by defoliating caterpillars of the pine-tree lappet moth.
This project is exploring the threat to UK forestry posed by the Pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini) and whether it is an introduced pest species or a previously undiscovered resident.
Investigating the potential of Integrated Forest Management of Hylobius abietis to reduce chemical inputs
Monitoring traps for the pine-tree lappet moth were tested to find the most effective trap type and colour combination for adult moth capture.
In UK forestry, the synthetic pyrethroid insecticides alpha-cypermethrin and cypermethrin have been used for many years to provide protection for young trees planted on restock sites from damage by the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis L. However, concerns over the toxicity of these insecticides to aquatic life if misused has led to a search for alternative forms of protection. This paper describes a detailed programme of efficacy experiments undertaken between 2009 and 2014 to find replacements for these products. Over 50 combinations of chemical and non-chemical approaches were tested on 16 different sites.
Acetamiprid, chlorantraniliprole, and in some situations the physical barriers MultiPro® or Kvaae® wax, can be alternatives to traditional synthetic pyrethroid insecticides for the protection of young conifers from damage by the large pine weevil Hylobius abietis L.
LWEC BIPESCO: Biological pest control of insect pests that threaten tree health
Principal Investigator
LWEC PROTREE: Promoting resilience of UK tree species to novel pests and pathogens: ecological and evolutionary solutions
Project Leader
Pine-tree lappet moth surveillance, monitoring, containment and control programme
FR Programme leader
Hylobius alternative plant protection product trials
FR Programme leader
EU LIFE+PISA: Innovative eco-friendly traps for the control of pine Lepidoptera in urban and recreational spaces
FR Project leader
Integrated Forest Management of Hylobius abietis
GENOMIA: Development of a software platform for determining forest-scale Hylobius risk
FR Project leader
Hylobius Management Support System (and access details)
FR Programme leader
Peer reviewed papers
Sukovata, L., Dziuk, A., Parratt, M., Bystrowski, C., Dainton, K., Polaszek, A. and Moore, R. (2020). The importance of trap type, trap colour and capture liquid for catching Dendrolimus pini and their impact on by-catch of beneficial insects. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 22, 319-327. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/afe.12383
Willoughby. I. H., Moore, R., Moffat, A. J., Forster, J. Sayyed, I. and Leslie, K. (2020). Are there chemical and non-chemical alternatives to the use of conventional insecticides for the protection of young trees from damage by the large pine weevil Hylobius abietis in UK forestry? Forestry 93 (5), 694-712. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpaa013
Moore, R., Cottrell, J., A’Hara, S., and Ray, D. (2017). Pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini) in Scotland: Discovery, timber movement controls and assessment of risk. Scottish Forestry, 71 (2), 34-43.
Wilson, E., Moore, R. 2016. High hopes for healthy forests. Chartered Forester Magazine. Winter 2016/2017.
Ray, D., Peace, A., Moore, R., Petr, M., Grieve, Y., Convery, C. and Ziesche, T. (2016). Improved prediction of the climate-driven outbreaks of Dendrolimus pini in Pinus sylvestris forests. Forestry 89 (2), 230-244.
Moore, R. (2009). Pine-tree lappet moth found in Scotland. In: FR News, November 2009 (PDF-1893 KB), 1-2.
Glare, T.R., Reay, S.D., Nelson, T.L., Moore, R., 2008. Beauveria caledonica is a naturally occurring pathogen of forest beetles. Mycol. Res. 112, 352–360.
Moore, R. (2007). Hylobius Management Support System: A decision support system to help foresters predict and reduce damage and costs due to large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis. Forest Research Leaflet.
Brixey, J.M., Moore, R., and Milner, A.D. (2006). Effect of entomopathogenic nematode (Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser) application technique on the efficacy and distribution of infection of immature stages of the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) in stumps of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) created at different times. Forest Ecology and Management, 226, 161-172.
Evans, H.F., Moore, R., Heritage, S.G. and Wainhouse, D. (2004). Developments in the integrated management of Hylobius abietis, a pest of restocking in conifer plantations. Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2002-03.
Moore, R., Brixey, J.M., and Milner, A.D. (2004). Effect of time of year on the development of immature stages of the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) in stumps of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.) and influence of felling date on their growth, density and distribution. Journal of Applied Entomology, 128, 167-176.
Moore, R. (2004). Managing the threat to restocking posed by the large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis: the importance of time of felling of spruce stands. Forestry Commission Information Note 61.
Mason, W.L., Edwards, C., Hale, S.E., Ireland, D., Johnson, D., Kerr, G., Pommerening, A. and Moore, R. (2003). Continuous Cover Forestry. Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2002-03.
Brown, A., Willoughby, I, Clay, D.V., Moore, R. and Dixon, F. (2003). The use of dye markers as a potential method of reducing pesticide use. Forestry, 76, 371-384.
Moore, R. (2001). Emergence trap developed to capture adult large pine weevil Hylobius abietis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and its parasite Bracon hylobii (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 91, 109-115.
Wainhouse, D., Evans, H.F., Moore, R. Webber, J., Thorpe, K., and Staley, J. (2002). The Integrated Forest Management Programme. Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2000-01: 42-47.
Willoughby, I., Clay, D., Moore, R. (2001). The use of dye markers as a method of reducing herbicide use and potential environmental damage. Annals of Forest Science special issue.
Heritage, S., and Moore, R. (2000). The assessment of site characteristics as part of a management strategy to reduce damage by Hylobius. Forestry Commission Information Note 38.
Moore, R., Heritage, S.G. and Brixey, J.M.(1998). Population dynamics, migration and control of the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis). Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 1997-98: 70-74.
Moore, R.(1997). Public and private enemy no.1. A new approach to dealing with the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis). Forestry and British Timber, 26 (4), 12-15, 1997.
Skrzecz, I. and Moore, R.(1997). The attractiveness of pine branches infected with selected wood colonising fungi to the Large Pine Weevil (Hylobius abietis). USDA Forest Service General Technical Report NE-236: 146-152, 1997.
Moore,R., Anderson, R.A., Ray, D., Walker, C., Pyatt, D.G., Evans, H.F., Carter, C.I., Straw, N.A., Wainhouse, D. and Winter, T.G.(1996). Soil biodiversity: a literature review. Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 17.
Heritage, S.G., Moore, R., Brixey, J.B. and Henry, C.J. (1995). Possibilities for the use of biological agents against Hylobius abietis. Report on Forest Research 1995: 5-8.
Moore, R., Clarke, R.T. and Creer, S. (1993). An insect sorting device to be used in conjunction with insect suction samplers such as the D-Vac. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 83, 113-120.
Moore, R., Warrington, S. and Whittaker, J.B. (1991). Herbivory by insects on oak trees in pure stands compared with paired mixtures. Journal of Applied Ecology, 28, 290-304.
Moore,R., and Francis,B.J.(1991). Factors influencing herbivory by insects on oak trees in pure stands and paired mixtures. Journal of Applied Ecology, 28, 305-317.
Whittaker,J.B., Kristiansen,L.W., Mikkelsen,T.N. and Moore,R. (1989). Responses to ozone of insects feeding on a crop and a weed species. Environmental Pollution, 62, 89-101.
Moore,R. (1988). An experimental investigation of the levels of insect herbivory associated with trees in pure stands and paired mixtures. PhD Thesis, Lancaster University. 230pp.
Whittaker, J.B., Warrington, S., and Moore, R. (1987). Patterns of typhlocybine feeding on sycamore and oak in relation to that of other herbivores, with comments on induced defences. Proceedings of the 6th Auchenorrhyncha Meeting, Turin, 1987.
Reports
Annual reports produced for all programs/projects
Software
Hylobius Management Support System (and access details)
[The link between these pages needs to be re-established]
Training and Knowledge exchange
Forest Health Days – annual speaker on forest insect pests at these events (2-3 per annum)
Tree Health Champions Training Days – annual speaker on forest insect pests at this event
Pine-tree lappet moth forest industry stakeholder meeting – annual scientific specialist speaker and advisor at these annual meetings
Scientific advisor and joint developer of training courses to learn how to use the Hylobius MSS software
