scholarly journals NOTES ON A SPRUCE BUDWORM INFESTATION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

1960 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. T. Silver

An outbreak of the one-year cycle spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), on Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, which lasted six years before collapsing, is described. Population trends and seasonal development, effect of defoliation on the host trees and parasites of the insect are discussed.

1982 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 643-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. E. Harris ◽  
A. F. Dawson

Western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, periodically attacks Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco) in British Columbia, causing mortality, deformity, and growth loss. Insect populations are assessed annually by the Canadian Forestry Service's Forest Insect and Disease Survey, by branch sampling for egg mass densities; predictions of population trends and damage are based on these assessments. Eggs, laid in rows in masses affixed to needles, are a preferred stage to sample because they are easily collected, remain fixed in numbers for an extended period, and precede damage by sufficient time to plan suppression or other programs. Numbers of masses alone, however, may not show population trends accurately as egg numbers per mass varies. Thus it is sometimes necessary to count eggs (Miller 1957), which is a formidable task. Fortunately egg numbers can be estimated from the dimensions of egg masses (Washburn and Brickell 1973). In this study, we determined the relationship between egg numbers and egg mass length and number of rows for samples from Douglas-fir stands frequently affected by spruce budworm throughout British Columbia. Data were collected over 3 years, 1977-79, during which time budworm populations were in a period of decline.


1961 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
pp. 594-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
George T. Harvey

In eastern Canada larvae of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), complete their development in one year, undergoing only one period of winter diapause in the second instar, whereas in certain parts of British Columbia, at high altitudes, two years are normally required for development, the larvae spending a second period of winter diapause in the fourth instar (3, 9). Among laboratory-reared eastern budworm there are a few individuals that enter a similar second diapause (7). The low incidence and somewhat irregular occurrence of this second diapause in eastern budworm, even in laboratory rearings, have hitherto made detailed studies almost impossible, but unusual storage times and treatments used recently in rearing experiments had the unexpected effect of increasing the incidence of this tvpe of behaviour to a level where experimental analysis became possible. This paper describes these larvae and their behaviour; an account of the effects of various conditions upon the incidence of second diapause will be presented later.


1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rene I. Alfaro ◽  
Emil Wegwitz

Abstract Defoliation, mortality, and top-kill were measured in 40-year-old, open-grown Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) under attack by the western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis [Freeman]) in the interior of British Columbia, in control trees and trees treated with ground sprays of the insecticide Sevin. In untreated trees that sustained repeated defoliation of 50 to 90% of the total crown foliage, tree mortality began after four years and had reached 29% after eight years. Thirty-four percent of the survivors in this group suffered top-kill, which averaged 1.0 m at the end of eight years. No mortality and only negligible top-kill occurred in trees, sprayed or not, which sustained less than 50% defoliation. A regression model of the probability of tree mortality based on the defoliation is presented. West. J. Appl. For. 3(2):44-46, April 1988.


1961 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
pp. 764-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Shepherd

The spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), is indigenous to most of the boreal forests in Canada and adjacent Eastern and Western United States. Throughout most of this range the budworm maintains a one-year cycle, overwintering as second instar larvae. In some mountainous areas of Alberta and British Columbia, a form of the budworm has a two-year cycle and over-winters as second instar larvae in the first year and as fourth instar larvae in the second year. The habitat temperatures of these two forms were investigated and related to rates of development in an attempt to discover the environmental factor which maintains the two-year cycle budworm as a distinct form even though it is geographically surrounded by the one-year cycle budworm.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1198-1206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paige E Axelrood ◽  
William K Chapman ◽  
Keith A Seifert ◽  
David B Trotter ◽  
Gwen Shrimpton

Poor performance of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) plantations established in 1987 has occurred in southwestern British Columbia. Affected sites were planted with 1-year-old container stock that exhibited some root dieback in the nursery. A study was initiated in 1991 to assess Cylindrocarpon and Fusarium root infection in planted and naturally regenerating (natural) Douglas-fir seedlings from seven affected plantations. Percentages of seedlings harboring Cylindrocarpon spp.and percent root colonization were significantly greater for planted seedlings compared with natural seedlings. A significant linear trend in Cylindrocarpon root colonization was observed for planted seedlings with colonization levels being highest for roots closest to the remnants of the root plug and decreasing at distances greater than 10cm from that region. This trend in Cylindrocarpon colonization was not observed for natural seedlings. Cylindrocarpon destructans (Zins.) Scholten var. destructans and C.cylindroides Wollenw. var. cylindroides were the only species isolated from planted and natural conifer seedlings. For most sites, percentage of seedlings harboring Fusarium spp.and percent Fusarium root colonization were less than for Cylindrocarpon. Recovery of Fusarium spp.from seedlings and root colonization levels were not significantly different for planted and natural seedlings from all sites.


Author(s):  

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Contarinia pseudotsugae Condrashoff (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Hosts: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany and Netherlands) and North America (Canada, British Columbia, USA, California, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington).


Author(s):  

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Rhabdocline pseudotsugae Syd. Hosts: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Information is given on the geographical distribution in EUROPE, Belgium, Britain, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Irish Republic, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, NORTH AMERICA, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia), USA.


Author(s):  

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins Coleoptera: Scolytidae Hosts: Mainly Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), also other Pseudotsuga spp. Information is given on the geographical distribution in NORTH AMERICA, Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, Mexico, USA, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 809-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil P. Thompson ◽  
Kathy J. Lewis ◽  
Lisa M. Poirier

Drought tolerance of trees may be affected by competition, but most studies quantifying the relationship do not consider the effect of stem clustering. Trees are often clustered in interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Mayr) Franco) forests near the grassland interface in central British Columbia due to past harvesting practices or habitat management for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817)). Climate change projections indicate continued increases in temperature, an outcome that would stress trees growing in dry environments. Trees placed in different states of competition by mechanical harvesting in the 1970s were sampled to provide a 40-year comparison of three levels of competition during 1–2 year droughts. Tree-ring analysis was used to assess the reduction in growth during drought years and resumption of growth in subsequent years. A clear separation of growth rates was evident between open-growing trees, trees on the edge of harvesting trails, and trees within the unharvested interior. Edge trees had intermediate growth rates but no differences were found in the long-term climate–growth relationship compared with open-growing trees. Both Edge and Open classes showed less relative growth reduction during droughts than Interior trees growing between harvest trails. Precipitation throughfall rates and competition for resources are likely driving short-term drought tolerance in combination with other factors.


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