Shoot damage and radial increment of trees in Scots pine [Pinus sylvestris] stands affected be a one-years outbreak of pine shoot beetles Tomicus piniperda and T.minor [Col., Scolytidae] in Southern Poland

The level of shoot damage and the annual radial increment were estimated in Scots pine stands affected by a severe maturation feeding of pine shoot beetles Tomicus piniperda (L.) and T. minor (Hart.). Studies were conducted on sample plots situated about 60 and 500 m from sawmill timber storage sites during 2001-2005. In both investigated stands the radial increment in 2003 was smaller than that in 2002. There was no significant difference between the damaged stand and the control stand in respect of its relative value. The relative value of radial increment during the period 2003—2005 showed that a severe maturation feeding of pine shoot beetles had no effect on weakening of increment dynamics of trees in the edge part of the stand.