Life table for Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Heteroptera: Coreidae) and prediction of damage in lodgepole pine seed orchards

Abstract 1 Fecundity, egg hatch and nymphal survivorship of Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann were determined and used to develop a damage prediction formula for seed bugs in lodgepole pine seed orchards. 2 A single overwintered L. occidentalis female may lay up to 80 eggs during early and mid‐season cone development. 3 Up to 83.4% of eggs that were attached to branches with tape hatched successfully, compared with 53.5% of eggs attached to needles with wire. Egg parasitism was only observed in egg masses attached with wire. 4 Egg masses attached with wire suffered approximately 30% mortality from parasitism, primarily by Gryon pennsylvanicum (Ashmead). 5 Approximately 15.1 and 2.5% of first instars survived to adulthood in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Survival of caged nymphs that were protected from predators was 14.5 and 17.8%, respectively. 6 A composite survival table indicated that 9.3% of eggs laid by L. occidentalis are expected to survive to adulthood. 7 Based on previously determined damage estimates for each life stage of feeding during three periods of cone development, a hypothetical density of one seed bug per tree early in the season will result in an expected seed loss of approximately 310 seeds.