NUMBER AND SIZE OF EGGS IN EGG MASSES OF THE WESTERN SPRUCE BUDWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractFoliage of Douglas-fir and grand fir bearing egg masses of the western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, was collected from sites in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Later, 4154 of these egg masses were examined in the laboratory. The average number of eggs per mass was 47.5 ± 10.65 (range 23–58). The number of eggs in a mass increased as defoliation of current foliage increased from none to moderate. The average number of eggs per linear millimeter of a single row ranged among sites from 1.24 ± 0.02 to 2.43 ± 0.21. The average number of eggs per linear millimeter of a row was highest (1.99) among the sites studied in Idaho, and lowest (1.58) among the sites studied in Oregon.