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KORSCHELTELLUS GRACILIS (GROTE): A PEST OF RED SPRUCE AND BALSAM FIR ROOTS (LEPIDOPTERA: HEPIALIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

David L. Wagner
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, U-43, Room 312, 75 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut, USA 06269 and Entomology Research Laboratory, 655B Spear Street, South Burlington, Vermont, USA 05403
Donald R. Tobi
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Laboratory, 655B Spear Street, South Burlington, Vermont, USA 05403
William E. Wallner
Affiliation:
Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, 51 Mill Pond Road, Hamden, Connecticut, USA 06514
Bruce L. Parker
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Laboratory, 655B Spear Street, South Burlington, Vermont, USA 05403

Abstract

Korscheltellus gracilis (Grote) is a pest of red spruce and balsam fir roots in the forests of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. The larvae feed below ground on woody and non-woody plant tissues for 2 years before maturing. It was found at 18 localities across New England and Nova Scotia during the summers of 1987 and 1988. On Whiteface Mt., New York, and Mt. Moosilauke, New Hampshire, larvae were absent to uncommon at low (500 m) and high (1300 m) altitudes, but common to abundant in red spruce – balsam fir associations at 700, 900, and 1100 m. During September 1987, larval populations were estimated at 56 000 and 312 000 per hectare in soils at 900 m on Whiteface and Moosilauke, respectively. Dense populations occurred locally, e.g. 27 larvae were recovered from a single 0.25-m2 soil pit at 900 m on Moosilauke. By June 1988, larval numbers on Whiteface and Moosilauke had declined by 51% and 72%, respectively. Seedlings and mature trees of both spruce and fir were damaged by larval feeding on bark and cambium. Seedlings were girdled; mature trees had wounds paralleling the root axes.

Résumé

Korscheltellus gracilis (Grote) est un insecte nuisible aux racines de l’épinette rouge et du sapin baumier dans les forêts du nord-est des États-Unis et du sud-est du Canada. Les larves se nourrissent sous la terre de tissus ligneux et non-ligneux des plantes pendant une période de 2 ans avant le développement complet. Il a été trouvé à 18 endroits à travers la Nouvelle-Angleterre et la Nouvelle-Écosse pendant les étés de 1987 et de 1988. À Whiteface Mountain, New York, et à Mount Moosilauke, New Hampshire, les larves ont été absentes à rares aux basses altitudes (500 m) et aux hautes altitudes (1300 m), mais elles ont été communes à abondantes dans les associations de l’épinette rouge et du sapin baumier à 700, 900 et 1100 m. Pendant septembre 1987, les populations larvaires ont été évaluées à 56 000 et à 312 000 par hectare, respectivement, à 900 m dans les sols de Whiteface et de Moosilauke. Les populations denses ont été trouvées localement, p.ex : 27 larves ont été prises dans une fosse unique de sol de 0,25 m2 à Moosilauke. Au mois de juin, 1988, le nombre de larves à Whiteface et à Moosilauke a diminué de 51% et de 72%, respectivement. Les semis naturels et les arbres matures des deux espèces ont été endommagés par l’alimentation des larves sur l’écorce et le cambium. Les semis ont été cernés : les arbres matures ont eu des blessures en parallèle aux axes des racines.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1991

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