Land and Forest Iceland
The Parasites and the Birch at Hrafnaþing
29th January 2025
15:15 to 16:30
Urriðaholtsstræti 6-8,
210 Garðabær
Dr. Brynja Hrafnkelsdóttir, a leading entomologist at Land and Forest, will present her research on Icelandic birch-infesting insect species, including both established species and newly discovered, at the Hrafnaþing Forum hosted by the Icelandic Institute of Natural History on Wednesday, January 29th, at 15:15. The presentation will be available both in-person and via live stream.
Dr. Hrafnkelsdóttir's lecture, titled "The Parasites and the Birch – The Domestic and Foreign Insect Species that Live on Birch in Iceland and the Effects of Temperature on Them," will examine the prevalence, distribution, and climate-related impacts on these insect populations.
An Institute website blog indicates that over 30 insect species in Iceland inhabit birch trees, causing a range of detrimental effects. Some species have triggered significant outbreaks resulting in widespread forest damage and mortality. While others cause less severe damage, prolonged insect feeding can still reduce growth, seed production, and the trees' overall resistance to other pests.
In the past century, several novel and detrimental birch pests have become established in Iceland. Some inflict greater damage in Iceland than elsewhere, potentially due to a lack of birch population adaptation or the absence of natural predators. The Birch Leafroller (Epinotia solandriana) and Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) arrived in the early 20th century. Since 2005, three leaf-mining species—the moths Heringocrania unimaculella, and the sawflies Scolioneura betuleti and Fenusella nana—have been identified. Prior to this, Icelandic birch was unaffected. Argyresthia goedartella, a moth species that infests birch seeds, is another recent arrival; its impact on overall seed production remains undetermined.
The lecture will be held in Krummasalir, the Institute of Natural History's third-floor lecture hall, located in their Urriðaholt, Garðabær building. Simultaneous online streaming will be available via Microsoft Teams.