Egg hatch of forest tent caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) on two preferred host species

2012 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 756-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Gray ◽  
Don P. Ostaff
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Forest Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Egg Hatch ◽  
Egg Masses ◽  
Temperature Regimes ◽  
Host Phenology ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Tent Caterpillar

AbstractSynchrony between herbivore and host phenology can be an important factor in herbivore fitness. The survival of first-instar forest tent caterpillar (FTC) (Malacosoma disstria Hübner; Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) larvae and performance of surviving larvae are reduced when egg hatch and host budbreak are asynchronous. Budbreak in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux; Salicaceae) and largetooth aspen (Populus grandidentata Michaux; Salicaceae), two preferred hosts of FTC, differ by ∼14 days. We examined the phenological requirements of FTC egg hatch to see if an inherent difference exists between FTC egg masses on the two hosts, and if the difference would promote synchrony with each host. Egg masses from a haphazard selection of clones of each host were collected in a mixed stand of trembling and largetooth aspen in New Brunswick, Canada. Egg masses were subjected to controlled temperature regimes in the laboratory, and hatch was monitored daily. Despite the differences in host phenologies and the obvious benefits of being synchronised with host phenology, egg masses collected from trembling aspen began hatching only 3 days earlier, and completed hatching only 2 days earlier, than egg masses collected from largetooth aspen. Bet hedging is discussed as a possible strategy to explain the absence of host-specific synchrony between egg hatch of FTC and the hosts it selects for oviposition.

CONTROL OF FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR, MALACOSOMA DISSTRIA (LEPIDOPTERA: LASIOCAMPIDAE), WITH DIMILIN®

1979 ◽  
Vol 111 (7) ◽  
pp. 841-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Retnakaran ◽  
Larry Smith ◽  
Bill Tomkins ◽  
Jeffrey Granett
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Rhodamine B ◽  
Malacosoma Disstria ◽  
Forest Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Active Ingredients ◽  
Wettable Powder ◽  
Spray Deposit ◽  
Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Better Than

AbstractDimilin (25% wettable powder) was mixed in water and sprayed from a Grumman Agcat aircraft equipped with four micronair units at the rate of 70 g (active ingredients) / 4,67 L/ha (1 oz/0.5 U.S. gal per acre) on two stands of trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx., heavily infested with forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hübner. The material was applied when the insects were in the first and second instars and the trees were starting to flush. Spray deposit analysis using a dye, Rhodamine-B, in the spray mix and spray plates in the plots indicated that conditions for spraying in the morning were better than those in the evening as expected. Total control of the forest tent caterpillar with very little defoliation of the trees was achieved.

Potential for combining sex pheromones for the forest tent caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) and the large aspen tortrix (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) within monitoring traps targeting both species

2005 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
pp. 615-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya L. Evenden
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Malacosoma Disstria ◽  
Forest Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Monitoring Traps ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Choristoneura Conflictana

Trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx. (Salicaceae), is the most widely distributed tree species in North America (Perala 1990) and is considered to be an ecologically (Hogg et al. 2002) and economically important (Brandt et al. 2003) component of the boreal forest. Due to the recently increased economic value of trembling aspen (Brandt et al. 2003), the impact of native insect defoliators on tree growth and mortality has become commercially important. Two of the most significant defoliators of trembling aspen throughout its range in Canada are the forest tent caterpillar (FTC), Malacosoma disstria Hübner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), and the large aspen tortrix (LAT), Choristoneura conflictana Walker (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

White tree rings formed in trembling aspen saplings following experimental defoliation

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1929-1934 ◽  
Author(s):  
E H Hogg ◽  
M Hart ◽  
V J Lieffers
Keyword(s):  
Tree Rings ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Malacosoma Disstria ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Forest Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Early Season ◽  
June July ◽  
Tent Caterpillar

Recent studies of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in western Canada have shown a correlation between past insect defoliation events and the formation of narrow, abnormally pale-coloured ("white") tree rings. The objectives of this study were to test the hypothesis that defoliation causes the formation of white rings and to examine how defoliation affects ring width and density. We experimentally defoliated 7- to 18-year-old aspen in June, July, or August 1997 and subsequently found that white rings were formed the same year in all aspen that were severely defoliated in early June. These white rings were much narrower than in adjacent trees left as controls, and mean xylem density of the white rings (0.27 g·cm–3) was significantly reduced relative to normal rings (0.35–0.40 g·cm–3). In the year following defoliation, the tree rings remained narrow, but their appearance and density had returned to normal. Aspen defoliated later in the season formed relatively normal rings in 1997, but ring widths were reduced in 1998. The results confirm that white rings in aspen can be a useful retrospective indicator of the severe, early season defoliation that is typical during major outbreaks of forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.) and other insects.

Gap dynamics in aspen stands of the Clay Belt of northwestern Quebec following a forest tent caterpillar outbreak

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1606-1617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Moulinier ◽  
François Lorenzetti ◽  
Yves Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Malacosoma Disstria ◽  
Forest Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Gap Dynamics ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Gap Formation ◽  
Canopy Opening ◽  
Tent Caterpillar

Forest tent caterpillar (FTC; Malacosoma disstria Hübner) outbreaks represent an important natural disturbance in broadleaf-dominated stands; however, their effects on forest gap dynamics are not well understood. To describe such effects on canopy gaps and tree recruitment patterns, we investigated 20 trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) dominated stands defoliated severely over 0 to 3 years during the last outbreak (1998–2003) in the northwestern Clay Belt of Quebec. Results show that canopy opening more than tripled (12.3%–43.7%) from 0 to 3 years of severe defoliation, and mean gap size was more than 12 times greater (7.2–87.5 m2) over the same gradient. Regeneration patterns suggest that aspen recruitment is not sufficient to completely restore closed canopies in stands defoliated 0, 1, and 2 years, whereas it should be sufficient in stands defoliated 3 years, where large gaps allow trembling aspen establishment. Our results clearly indicate that FTC outbreaks represent an important factor of gap formation in trembling aspen stands. At the stand level, gaps create uneven stand structures, and at the landscape level, FTC defoliation duration creates a large range of even to uneven stand structures.

Response of trembling aspen to partial cutting and subsequent forest tent caterpillar defoliation in a boreal mixedwood stand in northeastern Ontario, Canada

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1349-1356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongzhou Man ◽  
Gordon J. Kayahara ◽  
James A. Rice ◽  
G. Blake MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Malacosoma Disstria ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Forest Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Crown Dieback ◽  
Tent Caterpillar

The growth response and mortality of trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) were monitored 1, 3, 5, and 11 years after partially harvesting an aspen-dominated mature mixedwood stand in northeastern Ontario. Both diameter and height of aspen trees responded positively to harvesting. However, 3 years after harvest, the growth rates of residual aspen were severely suppressed by 3 years of moderate to severe defoliation by forest tent caterpillar ( Malacosoma disstria Hbn.). The diameter growth of surviving trees almost recovered, but due to continuous crown dieback in the 6 years after defoliation ceased, height growth did not. Over the 11 years after harvest, 70% of residual aspen died, with 80% of that mortality occurring in the 6 years after defoliation. Trees in the lower canopy and in the partial cut had higher mortality rates than those in the upper canopy and in the uncut control. Increased mortality at the individual tree level was generally associated with greater foliage loss. Aspen growth and mortality were associated with defoliation levels, particularly for trees in partial cut treatments. Partial cutting and crown class strongly influenced the response of aspen trees to insect defoliation and should be considered when selecting residual trees during harvesting.

How do primary nutrients affect the performance and preference of forest tent caterpillars on trembling aspen?

2006 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan K. Noseworthy ◽  
Emma Despland
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Forest Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Leaf Quality ◽  
Pheromone Trails ◽  
Tent Caterpillar

AbstractVariation in leaf quality includes differences in both primary nutrients and secondary metabolites. Both of these factors can influence the feeding preference and resulting performance of herbivores in ways that are difficult to disentangle when comparing foliage from different sources. Our study was designed to assess the effects of the ratio of the primary nutrients in host-tree foliage, protein and sugar, on the performance and feeding behaviour of the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hübner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)). Fourth-stadium larvae were fed trembling aspen leaves (Populus tremuloides Michx (Salicaceae)) supplemented with casein, sucrose, or buffer only (control). No differences in taste responses to the three leaf types were detected. In a cafeteria situation, feeding behaviour over the short term was largely determined by the use of pheromone trails and hence depended on which leaf was contacted first. Over the longer term, caterpillars fed most on the control leaf and the sugar-supplemented leaf and discriminated against the protein-supplemented leaf. Sugar supplementation increased survivorship relative to the control treatment but slowed development and did not affect growth; protein supplementation decreased growth. These findings are consistent with past research comparing forest tent caterpillar performance and feeding preference on different host plants.

Annual differences in quality of leaf litter of aspen (Populus tremuloides) affecting rates of decomposition

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (10) ◽  
pp. 1940-1947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry R. Taylor ◽  
Dennis Parkinson
Keyword(s):  
Water Absorption ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Absorption Rate ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Leaching Loss ◽  
The Difference

Freshly fallen leaf litter was collected from a stand of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta each autumn from 1981 through 1984. Leaves from 1981 and 1982 were yellow, waxy, and strong. Leaves from 1983 were pale brown and very brittle, and almost 1% of them suffered symmetrical deformities. Leaves from 1984 were composed of 80% yellow leaves and 20% green leaves, which apparently abscissed before senescence. Green and yellow 1984 leaves were distinctly different with respect to total (3 days) leaching loss, leachate conductivity, and proportions of ash, cellulose, and labile material. Green 1984 leaves contained twice as much nitrogen as yellow ones (13.1 vs. 6.5 mg∙g−1) and significantly more phosphorus (1.6 vs. 1.3 mg∙g−1). Leaves of different years varied widely with respect to leaf mass, water absorption rate, mass and conductivity of leachate, and proportions of cellulose, labiles, lignin, and ash, but there was no consistent ordering among years; leaves of different colouration (especially 1981 and 1983) were often physicochemically similar, while leaves identical in appearance were often chemically different. Small but significant differences in N and P concentrations among years were removed by 2 h leaching. Leaves of 1981 decomposing in laboratory microcosms at 26 °C lost less mass than either 1982 or 1983 leaves after 1 month, but not after 2 months. Ability of the cuticle to resist water absorption was probably responsible for the difference in initial decomposition rate.

EFFECT OF HOST AND NONHOST TREES ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR, MALACOSOMA DISSTRIA (LEPIDOPTERA: LASIOCAMPIDAE)

1997 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 991-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.W. Nicol ◽  
J.T. Arnason ◽  
B. Helson ◽  
M.M. Abou-Zaid
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Acer Saccharum ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Malacosoma Disstria ◽  
Forest Tent Caterpillar ◽  
Host Trees ◽  
Growth Inhibitory ◽  
The Many ◽  
Tent Caterpillar

AbstractLarval growth and pupal parameters of the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hübner) reared on the foliage of two host trees (Populus tremuloides Michx. and Acer saccharum Marsh.) and one nonhost tree (Acer rubrum L.) were quantified. This was achieved by undertaking a larval development bioassay under controlled laboratory conditions, but using fresh leaves collected in two field seasons. Larvae fed foliage of P. tremuloides grew exponentially and began to pupate after 3 weeks. Larvae fed with A. saccharum gained significantly less weight and had a reduced number of larvae pupate, and the pupae weighed significantly less than their counterparts fed on P. tremuloides. All larvae that were fed the foliage of A. rubrum died within 2 weeks. A nutritional utilization bioassay with fourth-instar larvae revealed that the foliage of A. saccharum has a growth-inhibitory component, whereas that of A. rubrum is antifeedant. Reasons are discussed for the discrepancy between the many reports of A. saccharum being a food host for M. disstria in the field and the laboratory results.

Impact of simulated aspen shoot blight on trembling aspen

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 719-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.V. Blenis
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Mechanical Wounding ◽  
Tree Form ◽  
Shoot Blight ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Intensively Managed

Although aspen shoot blight (ASB), caused by Pollaccia americana Ondrej, is a common disease of trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.), its impact is uncertain. Mechanical wounding, previously shown to be a reliable surrogate for ASB infection, was used to assess ASB impact in two experiments. In the first experiment, the effect of date of wounding on impact was studied by wounding 1-year-old aspen on four dates between 29 June and 10 August 2001. Tree form at the end of the 2001 growing season varied with wounding date, and for each of the wounding dates, tree height was reduced relative to that of unwounded, control trees. After the 2005 growing season, only trees wounded on 17 July were shorter than unwounded trees and the difference in heights was only 62 cm. In the second experiment, trees spaced at 2.0 or 0.67 m were wounded in four successive seasons to determine the effect of multiple years of infection on trees growing at different densities. Simulated ASB reduced tree height by an average of 16 cm, whereas branchiness was not increased by ASB, even at the lower density. Although ASB should not be ignored, these results suggest that it is unlikely to be amongst the most destructive pests of intensively managed aspen.

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