The role of bark beetles (Latin: Scolytinae) in the degradation of spruce forest groves in Georgia and the biological agent of these pests, the ant beetle (Latin: Thanasimus formicarius)

Abstract

      Georgia is world famous for its unique Caucasian relict and endemic species of plant diversity. Conifers, which are widely distributed throughout the country, form sacred groves, but unfortunately for us, the main pests of spruce crops (bark eaters) are widespread in the forest-covered areas, which pose a great threat to the ecosystem of coniferous forests and its economic importance. In modern life, when a very big role is assigned to less damage to our surrounding environment, it was necessary to reduce as much as possible the use of measures to fight against harmful organisms that would harm the environment and all living organisms living in it, that's why the integrated protection of plants came to the fore, the main essence of which is, the management of harmful organisms not only by chemical means, but also by combining biological, agro-technological and mechanical methods. Since the use of chemical means against crustaceans does not give us the maximum result, due to the specifics of the pest's harmfulness, we decided to start biological measures to fight against it, which provides for the reproduction of the biological agent of crustaceans, Thanasimus formicarius, in laboratory conditions and its subsequent transfer to areas covered by pests.