Heavy infestation of grassland with dock reduces yields and therefore results in considerable economic loss for farmers. However, due to the high regeneration and reproduction capacity the control of dock poses a particularly sincere challenge to farmers. Existing means of combating the problematic species (e.g. chemical control) can often be used to a limited extent only and in most cases also entail risks. Organic control through natural enemies is therefore an alternative. The projects aims to test the efficiency, practicability and feasibility by means of a pilot project using the larvaes of the fiery clearwing moths.
Targets and target groups
Testing of an innovative method for organic dock control in terms of efficiency, practicability and feasibility by means of a pilot project
Knowledge transfer within the Operational Group as well as between the Operational Group and farmers
The main target group is the Austrian grassland management sector.
Project implementation and measures
Essential sub-steps include
the collection of clearwing larvae from their natural environment as initial breeding population;
the rearing and propagation of larvae of fiery clearwing moths;
the application of the larvae that have been reared in first outdoor tests as well as
an analysis of the results gained from the testing of the method with a view to large-scale applicability in grassland.
Results and effects
The expected outcome of the Operational Group “Organic dock control” is a strategy for organic dock control which is developed in close cooperation of the individual stakeholders from practice, advisory services and research and which can be used as a basis of decision-making in the development of further products.
