History of the Hemlock Looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.), (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in Newfoundland, and Notes on Its Biology

1956 ◽  
Vol 88 (10) ◽  
pp. 587-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Forest Pest ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
History Of ◽  
Hemlock Looper ◽  
Near Future

The hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.), has been an important forest pest in Newfoundland for many years. Outbreaks have been reported from widely separated parts of the Island and in most cases the mortality of balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill, has been high.An investigation of the biology of the insect was commenced in 1950 at Lake St. George where two separate infestations had appeared in 1949. These infestations died out in 1951 and only limited information was obtained on some aspects of the investigation. As there is little prospect of continuing field studies in the near future, the results to date are being reported.

Larval diet prior to and following virus ingestion influences the efficacy of two nucleopolyhedroviruses in whitemarked tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma) caterpillars

2012 ◽  
Vol 144 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Brodersen ◽  
Rob Johns ◽  
Renée Lapointe ◽  
David Thumbi ◽  
Graham Thurston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Diet ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Betula Papyrifera ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Tussock Moth ◽  
Orgyia Leucostigma ◽  
Whitemarked Tussock Moth

AbstractFood quality can influence the performance of immature insects and their interactions with pathogens, such as viruses. In manipulative field studies, virus-free caterpillars of the whitemarked tussock moth (WMTM) (Orgyia leucostigma (Smith)) had higher survival, more female-biased sex ratios, and were larger when feeding on white birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall) versus balsam fir (Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller) or red spruce (Picea rubens Sargent). Subsequent laboratory studies with two nucleopolyhedroviruses, derived from WMTMs and Douglas-fir tussock moths, indicated that caterpillars fed high quality food (i.e., artificial diet) prior to infection had less mortality associated with virus infection than those feeding on lower quality foliage (i.e., birch). In field studies, caterpillars fed birch following infection had significantly lower mortality than those feeding on relatively lower quality foliage (i.e., balsam fir). We postulate that higher nutritional quality in artificial diet relative to birch (previrus-ingestion nutrition) and in birch relative to balsam fir foliage (postvirus-ingestion nutrition) has a positive effect on the ability of tussock moth caterpillars to resist or recover from viral infections, although the specific mechanisms responsible for observed resistance remain unclear.

Artificial inoculation with Armillaria ostoyae in established conifers stressed by defoliation, planting, and thinning in Newfoundland

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1758-1765 ◽  
Author(s):  
M D Piercey-Normore ◽  
J A Bérubé
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Root Infection ◽  
Armillaria Ostoyae ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Balsam Woolly Adelgid ◽  
Pathogenicity Tests ◽  
Mill Stand ◽  
Hemlock Looper

Armillaria ostoyae (Romagnesi) Herink causes root disease in conifers of the northern hemisphere. Pathogenicity tests of established conifer trees with A. ostoyae, has never been done in the boreal forest. Seven forest plots were selected in Newfoundland; a black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) plantation, a naturally regenerated black spruce stand, a balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) stand with hemlock looper (Lambdina fiscellaria (Guen.)) defoliation, two balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae (Ratz.)) infested balsam fir stands (thinned and unthinned sites), a balsam fir sawfly (Neodiprion abietis Harris) defoliated balsam fir stand, and an artificially defoliated black spruce stand. Roots of fir and spruce trees were inoculated with two isolates of A. ostoyae and re-examined after 2 years. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in root infection within plots for different types of host stress to examine the response of trees to controlled inoculations of A. ostoyae. There was a statistically significant difference in number of infected roots between the two isolates used as inoculum. There was significantly more root response with severity of infection within all sites except both adelgid plots. A marginally significant relationship between tree health and root infection was present in the balsam fir sawfly plot. There was a significantly larger number of infected roots associated with rhizomorphs in the naturally regenerated black spruce stand and the artificially defoliated balsam fir stand. These results suggest that stress prediposes the host tree to root infection by A. ostoyae.

EFFICACY OF OIL-BASED FORMULATIONS OF BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS BERLINER VAR. KURSTAKI AGAINST THE HEMLOCK LOOPER, LAMBDINA FISCELLARIA FISCELLARIA (GUEN.) (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE)

1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. West ◽  
A.G. Raske ◽  
A. Sundaram
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Eastern Hemlock ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Single Application ◽  
Early Application ◽  
Larval Population ◽  
First Instar ◽  
Hemlock Looper

AbstractOil-based formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. kurstaki, Dipel 132, Dipel 176, and Dipel 264, were aerially applied at rates of 1.18–2.36 L/ha over five 30-ha plots in a balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., forest in efficacy tests against the eastern hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.), in Newfoundland. Double applications of 30 Billion International Units (BIU) per hectare of each formulation and single applications of 40 BIU per hectare of Dipel 176 and Dipel 264 were tested. Larval population reductions of more than 95% and no defoliation of old or new foliage were observed in the plots receiving double applications and in the plot treated with a single application of Dipel 264. Larval numbers were reduced by 85% and defoliation was 4% in the plot treated once with Dipel 176.These treatments were applied against low to moderate larval populations, and their success was attributed to excellent spray coverage and early application when 50% or more of the larvae were still in their first instar.

Seasonal natural history of aphidophagous Syrphidae (Diptera) attacking the balsam twig aphid in balsam fir (Pinaceae) Christmas tree plantations

2016 ◽  
Vol 148 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Berthiaume ◽  
Christian Hébert ◽  
Georges Pelletier ◽  
Conrad Cloutier
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Aesthetic Value ◽  
Christmas Trees ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe balsam twig aphid, Mindarus abietinus Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most important pests of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller; Pinaceae) grown as Christmas trees in eastern North America. Aphid feeding on the current-year shoots results in needle distortion and shoots stunting, which reduces the aesthetic value of balsam fir trees and can have substantial economic impact. Syrphidae (Diptera) fly predators attacking this aphid are poorly known. We identified four species attacking the balsam twig aphid. Syrphus torvus Osten Sacken (Diptera: Syrphidae) was the most abundant species followed by Eupeodes lapponicus (Zetterstedt) (Diptera: Syrphidae) and Eupeodes americanus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae). We described the seasonal natural history of the two most abundant syrphids feeding on this aphid and we studied their synchrony with their prey. Syrphid larval density on balsam fir shoots increased rapidly and closely followed density of the balsam twig aphid. We also reported heavy parasitism of syrphid pupae by two Hymenoptera on tree foliage but lower parasitism on pupae in the soil under trees. Several cases of multiple parasitism and hyperparasitism were observed in syrphid pupae under trees. Abundance of predaceous syrphid species was higher in untreated balsam fir plantations compared with treated plantations. More research is needed to understand the role and the impact of these predators on balsam twig aphid population dynamics.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION TO TEMPORAL VARIATION IN CONIFER FOLIAGE BY A CATERPILLAR

1999 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
pp. 659-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan L. Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Physiological Adaptation ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Temporal Window ◽  
Relative Paucity ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Hemlock Looper

AbstractLarvae of the hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guenée) (Lepidoptere: Geometridae), consume both new and old foliage within the crowns of their host, balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Miller (Pinaceae), despite the poor nutritional quality generally ascribed to old tissues. Laboratory studies evaluated whether the consumption of old foliage by hemlock looper larvae could be an adaptation to the relative paucity of new versus old foliage, and to the limited temporal window during which young foliage remains high in nutritional quality. Access to new foliage was critical to hemlock looper survival; 55% of larvae fed an exclusive diet of new foliage survived, whereas only 5% and 0% of larvae fed exclusively 1-or 2-year-old foliage survived, respectively. Moreover, larvae reared on branches in synchrony with bud flush were more than twice as likely to survive than those whose emergence was delayed by 2 weeks. Despite the reliance by the hemlock looper upon new foliage for survival, larvae given access to both new and old foliage survived better and were heavier than those restricted to new foliage. By incorporating older foliage into their diet, the hemlock looper can circumvent the limited availability of new foliage, thereby gaining access to more abundant tissues.

Basal area and diameter growth in high-graded eastern temperate mixedwood forests: the influence of acceptable growing stock, species, competition and climate

2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 659-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugues Power ◽  
Patricia Raymond ◽  
Marcel Prévost ◽  
Vincent Roy ◽  
Frank Berninger
Keyword(s):  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Yellow Birch ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Growing Stock ◽  
Mixedwood Forests ◽  
Stem Quality ◽  
History Of

AbstractHarvesting practices in temperate mixedwoods of eastern North America have a history of diameter-limit cuts, which have often resulted in degraded residual stands. In this study, we examined the factors influencing stand basal area (BA) and tree diameter growth in previously high-graded mixedwood forests, to understand which stands are more likely to recover from high-grading. Over 15 years, we monitored tree growth, recruitment and stem quality of 532 sample plots that were located in high-graded stands of Quebec’s mixedwood forest. We found that diameter growth rates were positively correlated with precipitation-related variables for balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and for yellow birch (Betulla alleghaniensis) but opposing trends for temperature-related variables were found. Conversely to balsam fir, yellow birch growth was positively correlated to temperature variables. Our results also show that BA growth was greater for plots with a larger acceptable growing stock (AGS: trees with potential sawlog production) and that the increase in AGS was greater for plots with larger amount of conifer BA. These result highlights the importance to maintain a proportion of conifer trees in these mixed stands. Moreover, the significant effect of asymmetric competition in our study underscores the relevance of considering the spatial distribution when choosing crop trees.

Dead wood dynamics in declining balsam fir and spruce stands in New Brunswick, Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 750-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Taylor ◽  
David A. MacLean
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
History Of

Forest management prescriptions increasingly incorporate snag and downed dead wood (DDW) guidelines. This study utilizes permanent inventory plots to determine dead wood dynamics in 33 balsam fir ( Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) – spruce ( Picea spp.) (BFSP) and 17 spruce – balsam fir (SPBF) stands in New Brunswick, Canada. Stands were declining, unmanaged, and had a history of recurrent spruce budworm ( Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)) outbreaks and aerial insecticide spraying. Fixed-area sampling matched remnants of 1165 dead trees and 864 corresponding pieces of DDW to plot trees that died over the last 15–18 years with known year and cause of death. Declining BFSP stands had the highest accumulation of dead wood (196 m3/ha) compared with SPBF and nondeclining BFSP (122 m3/ha and 77 m3/ha, respectively). Dead wood dynamics were influenced by cause of death, as a function of differences in tree height at death affecting snag decay, fragmentation, and fall. One-half of all dead trees never made a significant contribution to the snag population (25% uprooted and 25% stem breakage), and attrition resulted in only 50% of snags standing with a mean height of 6 m 15–20 years after death. This study will be of direct value to those managing or modeling dead wood dynamics in similar forests.

Does spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) rearing diet influence larval parasitism?

2013 ◽  
Vol 145 (5) ◽  
pp. 539-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lukas Seehausen ◽  
Jacques Régnière ◽  
Éric Bauce
Keyword(s):  
Significant Influence ◽  
Artificial Diet ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Larval Parasitoid

AbstractArtificial diet is commonly used to rear the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in the laboratory. While its effect on spruce budworm performance is relatively well studied, no information exists about the influence of rearing diet on larval parasitism. In this study, spruce budworm larvae reared in the laboratory on artificial diet or balsam fir, Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller (Pinaceae), foliage were introduced in the field to compare parasitism. Additionally, a laboratory choice test was conducted with the larval parasitoid Tranosema rostrale (Brischke) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). No significant influence of spruce budworm rearing diet on parasitism in the field was found. However, in the laboratory, T. rostrale attacked significantly more foliage-fed larvae. We conclude that even if initial differences in parasitism may exist between diet-fed and foliage-fed larvae in the laboratory, spruce budworm larvae reared on artificial diet can be used in field studies investigating parasitism of wild spruce budworm populations without concern that the food source would affect parasitism.

EFFICACY OF VARIOUS BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS BERLINER VAR. KURSTAKI FORMULATIONS AND DOSAGES IN THE FIELD AGAINST THE HEMLOCK LOOPER, LAMBDINA FISCELLARIA FISCELLARIA (GUEN.) (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE), IN NEWFOUNDLAND

1987 ◽  
Vol 119 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. West ◽  
A.G Raske ◽  
A. Retnakaran ◽  
K.P. Lim
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Larval Population ◽  
Water Based ◽  
Hemlock Looper

AbstractAerially applied Thuricide 48LV, Thuricide 64B, Futura XLV, and water-based formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. kurstaki (B.t.), were tested for effectiveness to control the hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.), in balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., stands. Thuricide 64B, applied twice at a dosage of 30 Billion International Units (BIU) per hectare in 1.78 L/ha, was the most effective, reducing the larval population by 100%.

SPRING PARASITISM OF OVERWINTERED EGGS OF LAMBDINA FISCELLARIA FISCELLARIA (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) BY TELENOMUS NEAR ALSOPHILAE (HYMENOPTERA: SCELIONIDAE)

1999 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lester K. Hartling ◽  
Nelson Carter ◽  
Janet Proude
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Dark Spot ◽  
Entire Surface ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Trichogramma Minutum ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Egg Parasitism ◽  
Hemlock Looper

New Brunswick experienced its first recorded outbreak of hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), in 1989 (Magasi1990). Since 1993, populations have remained at endemic levels. From 1989 to 1994, when annual egg surveys were conducted (from October to April) on balsam fir, Abies balsamea (Linnaeus) Miller (Pinaceae) to forecast the next years' population for planning foliage protection programs, the egg parasitoids Trichogramma minutum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) (Hartling et al. 1991) and Telenomus near alsophilae Viereck (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were frequently reared from overwintering looper eggs. We believe two factors can cause an underestimation of egg parasitism rates by Telenomus near alsophilae: (i) eggs parasitized by Telenomus near alsophilae can be difficult to identify, and need to be reared to detect the black shading on the chorion which ranges from a mere dark spot to some gradation of black over the entire surface; and (ii) additional parasitism by this parasitoid might occur in spring. Our estimates of egg parasitism rates were as high as 23% (n = 93) from spring-collected looper eggs incorrectly classified as viable until incubated in the laboratory. We describe part of an experiment that confirms spring parasitism by this species, and illustrate the implications to operational looper control operations.

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