Notes on the Lodgepole Needle Miner, Recurvaria milleri Busck (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and Its Parasites in Western North America

Abstract

The lodgepole needle miner, Recurvaria milleri Busck, was discovered in 1903 in the Yosemite National Park, California, and was described as a new species by Busck (1914). The infestation has persisted in that area, with irregular periods of abundance and scarcity. The latest heavy infestation was reported (G. R. Struble, in litt.) to have started in 1947, and has continued to intensify. The history of the outbreak to 1919 was reported by Patterson (1921).In 1942 a second important infestation was reported in the Banff National Park, Alberta. Details concerning the area of infestation and life-history notes were given by Hopping (1946). This infestation has continued to spread and has reached Yoho, Kootenay, and Revelstoke National parks.