Insects Affecting Seed Production of Jack Pine, and Life Tables of Conelet and Cone Mortality in Wisconsin

Eight insect species commonly affect seed production by jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.) in northern Wisconsin. Choristoneura pinus pinus Freeman, and Platylygus luridus (Reuter) attack conelets. Eucosma monitorana Heinrich, Asynapta hopkinsi (Felt), Conophthorus resinosae Hopk., and Dioryctria disclusa Heinrich attack cones. Tetyra bipunctata (Herrich-Schaeffer), and Laspeyresia toreuta (Grote) destroy seeds. The general biology and seasonal insect attack in relation to jack pine phenology are described. Fourteen percent of the conelets produced in 1980 survived to become cones in 1981. Insects caused approximately 44 percent of conelet and cone mortality. Nine percent of seeds extracted from the 1980 cone crop were damaged by insects. The red squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Bangs) harvested 10 percent of conelets during the winter of 1980-1981, and 30 percent of cones during the fall of 1981. Forest Sci. 31:271-281.