THE EFFECT OF THE POXVIRUS OF THE SPRUCE BUDWORM, CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE), ON MAMMALS AND BIRDS

1972 ◽  
Vol 104 (9) ◽  
pp. 1333-1342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles H. Buckner ◽  
John C. Cunningham

AbstractLaboratory-bred rats and mice fed heavy doses of the poxvirus of the spruce budworm showed no ill effects and made normal weight gains as compared with controls over a period of 8 weeks, and no deaths occurred in the treated groups. Laboratory and wild mammals exposed to aerial spray in open-topped cages similarly showed no adverse effects. Population densities, fecundity, and other pertinent life history parameters of small mammals and birds were studied relative to treatment of a forest with the poxvirus for control of spruce budworm. There were no observable interactions between these small vertebrates and the virus. It is concluded that, from the standpoint of homoiothermic vertebrates, the virus is a safe insecticide.

1977 ◽  
Vol 109 (9) ◽  
pp. 1239-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. N. Morris

AbstractBacillus thuringiensis (Dipel® 36B) mixed with a sublethal concentration of acephate (Orthene®) (O, S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate), an organophosphorous insecticide, was applied at 2.35–14 l./ha to white spruce (Picea glauca) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) trees infested with spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.). The treatment rate was 20 Billion International Units of B. thuringiensis (B.t.) activity with or without 42 g of active ingredient of acephate/ha.The ground deposit of the standard Dipel wettable powder formulation was 12% of emitted volume compared with 21–32% for the Dipel 36B flowable. The viability of B.t. spores was drastically reduced after 1 day of weathering but a high level of biological activity by the spore–crystal complex persisted for up to 20 days post-spray due probably to crystal activity.The addition of about 10% of the recommended operational rate of acephate to the B.t. suspension increased larval mortality by 34% when applied at 4.7 l./ha. Reductions in budworm populations were 97–99% in B.t. + acephate plots and 86–90% in B.t. alone plots.Plots with moderate budworm densities of up to 27 larvae/100 buds on white spruce and 36/100 on balsam fir were satisfactorily protected from excessive defoliation in the year of spray by B.t. with or without acephate. Plots with higher population densities were not satisfactorily protected based on the branch sample examination but aerial color photographs indicated good protection to the top third of the trees. Population declines were greater and defoliation and oviposition were lower in the treated plots than in the untreated checks 1 year later without further treatment. Two years later the larval population densities in all plots were low but the density was twice as high in the untreated check as in the treated plots, indicating long term suppression by the treatments. Defoliation was negligible in all plots.The treatments had no deleterious effect on spruce budworm parasitism. The data indicate that the integrated approach using Bacillus thuringiensis – chemical pesticide combinations is a viable alternative to the use of chemical pesticides alone in spruce budworm control. Large scale testing is now warranted.


1971 ◽  
Vol 103 (12) ◽  
pp. 1753-1756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Retnakaran

AbstractTopical application of thiotepa on the adult male spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens, at a concentration of 10 μg/insect resulted in 100% sterility. Unlike metepa, thiotepa did not have any apparent adverse effects on the competency of the sperms. Large numbers of male moths can be sterilized by allowing them to walk for 30 min on filter paper treated with a 2.5% solution of thiotepa in a 3:1 mixture of acetone and diffusion pump oil.


1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A Patten ◽  
Jutta C Burger

The Tennessee (Vermivora peregrina), Cape May (Dendroica tigrina), Bay-breasted (D. castanea), and Canada (Wilsonia canadensis) warblers and the Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) appear to show positive numerical responses to outbreaks of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana); the Magnolia (D. magnolia), Black-throated Green (D. virens), and Blackburnian (D. fusca) warblers may occur in lower numbers during outbreaks because of increased competition with these budworm specialists. Thus, we predicted that the number of fall vagrant Tennessee, Cape May, and Bay-breasted warblers and Ovenbirds occurring in California are highly positively associated with budworm population density, positively intercorrelated, and negatively associated with numbers of Magnolia, Black-throated Green, and Blackburnian warblers. A 23-year (1972-1994) data set of budworm population densities and vagrant warbler occurrences in California showed that (i) budworm population density was an excellent predictor (explaining about 50% of the variance) of numbers of occurrences of the Cape May, Bay-breasted, and Canada warblers; (ii) all warbler species tended to co-occur, with numbers of Cape May and Bay-breasted warblers especially highly intercorrelated; and (iii) Magnolia Warbler numbers were negatively associated with those of budworm specialists, but Black-throated Green and Blackburnian warblers showed no association.


1953 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Maw ◽  
H. C. Coppel

Phryxe pecosensis (Tns.) is a native parasite attacking several species of lepidopterous larvae. It has been reared consistently from collections of the spruce budworm made in British Columbia. The time required from egg deposition to the beginning of the formation of the puparium was 7 to 11 days, the female taking the longer period. The puparium was usually completed within a 24-hr. period and the adult emerged 9 to 11 days later. The life history and habits of the insect are described and the salient characters of the immature stages and the internal reproductive systems of the adults are illustrated and described.


1972 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1751-1762 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Sanders ◽  
G. S. Lucuik

AbstractCalling (extrusion of the sex pheromone-producing gland) by spruce budworm females follows a circadian rhythm regulated by the initiation of the photophase. At 2 °C 50% of the females call by 131/2 hr after "lights-on." Calling starts earlier at cooler temperatures. Females that have not been exposed to lights-on start calling as soon as darkness occurs. Virgin females are most attractive 3 to 4 days after emergence. Mated females call intermittently and are attractive but compete poorly with virgins. Once started, female budworm call continuously throughout the calling period, implying that their pheromone release rate is lower than if they called for short intervals only as in some other Lepidoptera. This may influence the quantities of synthetic pheromone required to disrupt mating behaviour. Calling behaviour is not influenced by the proximity of other adult budworm. At high population densities, males are apparently able to locate females before or as soon as they start to call, suggesting that communication is short range. Longer distance communication probably operates at low population densities. Population regulation by disrupting mating behaviour is therefore unlikely to succeed except at relatively low population densities.


1983 ◽  
Vol 115 (11) ◽  
pp. 1437-1443 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. Ramaswamy ◽  
R. T. Cardé ◽  
J. A. Witter

AbstractLarval densities and catch of adult male Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) in pheromone-baited covered funnel traps in the same year were highly correlated. Such traps avoid saturation problems associated with conventional sticky traps. Release of marked males resulted in recapture rates of up to 21% in covered funnel traps. The findings suggest that non-saturating pheromone-baited traps could be used to monitor population densities and trends of the spruce budworm.


1986 ◽  
Vol 118 (7) ◽  
pp. 611-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Sanders

AbstractThe efficiency of two sticky-bottomed traps and seven high-capacity, nonsticky traps in catching male spruce budworm [Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)] moths was evaluated in a wind tunnel. The place where the male moths first contacted the trap, the length of time that passed until they entered the trap, and the number remaining in the trap after 5 min were recorded. The most efficient traps were the Pherocon 1 C, a sticky-bottomed trap, and the Multi-Pher and Uni-trap, both nonsticky traps with internal funnel-shaped baffles that prevent moths from escaping. As sticky traps become saturated at relatively low densities they are not suitable for monitoring wide changes in population density. The Multi-Pher and Uni-trap are therefore recommended for monitoring population changes of the spruce budworm, establishing thresholds for management action, and estimating population density.


1954 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Coppel ◽  
M. G. Maw

The tachinid parasite Ceromasia auricaudata Tns., which had been transferred from Western to Eastern Canada for release against the spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), is an insect that deposits microtype eggs on leaves which are later ingested by the host. Eggs hatch immediately after ingestion, but the parasite does not develop beyond the first larval stage until the host pupates. Then the larva develops rapidly, maturing within 10 days. The mature larva leaves the host pupal case, drops to the ground, and pupates usually within 24 hr. Nine to 11 days later, the adult emerges. Very little information is available on the overwintering habits. The life history, habits, and rearing methods are outlined and important characters of the immature stages are illustrated and described.


1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Sanders

AbstractAnnual catches of male spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) in sex pheromone traps over a 21-year period in northwestern Ontario were well correlated with larval population densities in each subsequent year (r2 = 81%). On the basis of the criterion of 3 successive years of increasing catches or a threshold of 50 moths per trap, warning of extensive defoliation could have been given 6 years in advance. In 18 plots in northwestern Ontario and 35 plots distributed throughout the province, coefficients of determination (r2) between catch and population density in the same generation ranged from 40 to 74% in 1982 and 1983, but fell below 23% in 1984 when population densities in many plots were high. Coefficients of determination between catch and population densities in the following generation (eggs or larvae) ranged from 41 to 62%. On the basis of several years of cooperative research, sex pheromone traps are now in operational use in eastern North America for monitoring spruce budworm populations.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document