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The problem of the
pine trees being covered in the secretion of a
harmful insect that belongs
to Margarodidae family and is
called Marchalina hellenica
has become very common in a lot of areas
in our country.
Scientific Classification of Marchalina
hellenica
 
The dendroctonus
species of Marchalina hellenica
has always been existed in Greece but
its population density was low. However, ten
years ago the Ministry of Agriculture funded
the beekeeping associations to deliberately infest
the pine trees with the scientific parasite
with the aim to boost honey production.
The plan backfired. Marchalina hellenica
population multiplied dramatically.
Marchalina hellenica lives by sucking
the sap of pine trees. It bores
through the outer bark and feeds
within the soft inner bark
destroying in this way the sap of
the tree. Eavh tree is infested by
millions of insects which cause
the disruption of the water flow
to the crown, thus killing the
tree.
It was until recently
that this type of parasite was
still being regarded as ''beneficial''
by the Greek state and therefore
nothing had been done to eradicate
it. However, due to the pressure exerted by
the citizens and due to the large
number of dead pine trees in
Attica, the Greek authorities were
forced to ask from scientists and
companies specialized in pest control
to find a solution. Among others, NOVAGRICA HELLAS S.A.
- a leading company in the field of
agricultural research due to the
production and trading of pesticides
which are environmentally friendly- has
played a major role in the
protection of pine trees from pests.
The company's staff-scientists known world
wide-(Dr Mazomenos) take part in leading projects
for the development of new
ecological methods in the combat
of harmful pests and other
parasites.
Not too long ago, NOVAGRICA
HELLAS S.A. created a new product (TETRASTOP®),
made of natural substances, in order to
slow down the acarids and hemiptera population
growth. In 2004 this product was
examined by the researhers of the
Benakio Phytological Society (BPS) during
experiments against Marchalina hellenica
and the results were satisfactory.
Effectiveness: In March
2005 the product was tested on
a clump of pine trees at the
area around Demokritos Institute along
with the cooperation of NCRS ''
DEMOKRITOS '' and on pine trees in
Peania. The project was carried out
by the agricultiralist Sotiris
Nikologiannis and the student of
Agriculture at the University of
Athens, Natasa Nikologianni under the
supervision of biologist Nikos Babilis.
The testing was carried out during
the last stage of development of
larvae and mature female insects. Measurings
showed that the product is 99%
effective and it must be pointed
out that other pests were not
affected. 
In May 2005, after the turmoil
concerning the pine tree disease, the
BPS with the encouragement of the
Ministry of Agriculture, carried out experimental
tests on pine trees in three areas of
Attica using the specific product
along with other plant protection
products. During this project (TETRASTOP®),
products from other companies were also used
TRIONA, HELLONA, SAF-T-CIDE (cottonseed oil),
APLLAUD, ADMIRAL, INSEGAR (insect growth regulator), SAVONA (potassium
salts of fatty acids),
RVP (mixture of
terpenoids).
  
At the same time, the testing was
repeated in the broader area of
Demokritos Institute. Also, the ''Forest Friends
Association of Athens'', provided part
of its private space in Vouliagmeni
where further testings were carried out,
while geopoNikologianni
carried out a second testing of TETRASTOP®
product in the area of
Peania. All the testings were conducted
during the first larval stage (L1), where it
was found that Marchalina hellenica's
population was estimated at hundreds of thousands in
each tree. The results from the experiments
which were handed in by the BPS
to the Ministry of Agriculture certify
that TETRASTOP®
is 99% effective.
The NCRS ''DEMOKRITOS'' adopts
the TETRASTOP® pest
control :
After the last testing during
which the effectiveness of the product
was certified, the NCRS '' DEMOCRITOS ''
launched a new training programme to
save the trees in the area
around the institute using
TETRASTOP® .
The use of
other pesticides is uneccessary :The use of other pesticides
is unecessary given the high levels
of effectiveness of the product
and given the fact that the
spraying will be done in the right
time.
Natural product :
TETRASTOP® contains
drastic substances (mixture of ethereal oils) that
can also be found in food or
substances that are used by the
food industry. The former is non-toxic
to humans or other mammals as long
as it is used in designated
quantities.
It is not toxic to bees and
it does not affect harmless insects:
There have not been observed any worth
mentioning negative effects on bees and
other harmless insects.
The pictures were taken right after
the spraying had been done.The density
of the different kinds of ants,
vinegar flies(drosophila), small insects and
spiders was the same in both
the sprayed trees and unsprayed
trees. Parts of the inner bark of
the trees were removed and microscopic
observations, which were carried out the
next day, showed the existance of
microscopic organisms and acarids.
Natural enemies:
TETRASTOP®
does not affect the natural
enemies of Marchalina hellenica . A few
days after the spraying an
increased number of Chrysoperla eggs was
observed on the sprayed tree bark.
Chrysoperla, during the laval
stage, are active predators and are
regarded as beneficial insects. They usually
leave their eggs on the leaves of
the tree and the stems of plants
but rarely on the tree barks. Initial
observations showed that there was
a significant number of Chrysoperla
on sprayed trees eggs (about 30 eggs
in every 30x30cm) contrary to
unsprayed trees where nothing was found.
There is a strong possibility that
Chrysoperla are attracted by the
substance(s) contained in
TETRASTOP®
.
There are no worth mentioning
negative effects of the product neither
on the eggs nor on the Chrysoperla larrvae.
A week right after the spraying,
larvae at different developmental stages
was observed on the sprayed bark
trees. Some of it was transferred
to the Chemical Ecology and
Natural Products laboratory at the
biology institute on NCRS "DEMOKRITOS"
and was preserved in food cylinders.
They were fed on Marchalina hellenica
larvae (L1). The following pictures were taken
in the laboratory through the microscope.
In addition, the parasitic
insect Neoleokopis kartliana remained
unaffected. Neoleokopis kartliana is
a significant predator of Marchalina hellenica
and in the case of a mild
infestasion of the tree the
former's population remains stable (almost
at the same level as it used
to be before the deliberate and
uncontrollable infestation of pine trees
with Marchalina hellenica ).
TETRASTOP®
100% efficient
The use of other pesticides is
unecessary
A (natural) ecological product
Non - toxic to humans, bees and
other beneficial insects
It can be used in the garden,
outdoor places
Pleasant odor,
good value for money
For further
information on the product (TETRASTOP®) and
its purchase come to us !
At the last meeting
of the Council of Agricultural Medicines in the end of
March it was decided to give authorisation in plant
- protection product TETRASTOP®
against Marchalina hellenica. The recommended dose that
was decided by the participating scientists of the Council of
Agricultural Medicines is 200cm3 /100L water. Also
the Council of Agricultural Medicines has decided to start the
sprayings in June of 2008.
The
decision of Approval - Disposal of TETRASTOP®
was signed by the Minister of Rural Development and Food. The
number of the final approval is 9055. At the plant-protection
product TETRASTOP® granted final approval, with the
122914/13.12.2006 decision of the Minister of Rural Development
and Food, on use in pines at urban and suburban regions for the
confrontation of the insect Marchalina hellenica.
Number Registry of approval: 117589 of 9th /4/2008
At TETRASTOP® granted final approval of disposal in
the market No
9055/13-12-2006, as plant-protection product, for the
confrontation of Tetranychous (Tetranychus pheromone). The
decision of Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food is
No. 122914
Exclusive Disposal :
Tel: 0030 210 6645060,
0030 210 6642060,
Fax : 0030 210 6645560,
www.geoponiko.gr, email :
[email protected]
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