FIR CONEWORM, DIORYCTRIA ABIETIVORELLA (GROTÉ) (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE), PREFER CONES PREVIOUSLY EXPLOITED BY THE SPRUCE CONE MAGGOTS STROBILOMYIA NEANTHRACINA MICHELSEN AND STROBILOMYIA APPALACHENSIS MICHELSEN (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractWe tested the prediction that larvae of the fir coneworm, Dioryctria abietivorella (Groté), preferentially exploit cones previously damaged by cone maggots, Strobilomyia spp. In most years sampled, fir coneworm attacked a significantly greater proportion of maggot-damaged than healthy cones of both white spruce and black spruce. The ecological implications for pest management are briefly discussed.