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IMPACT OF THE BALSAM WOOLLY APHID (HOMOPTERA: PHYLLOXERIDAE) ON CONES AND SEED PRODUCED BY INFESTED FRASER FIR

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

G. F. Fedde
G. F. Fedde
Affiliation:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
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Abstract

Seed produced by Fraser fir, Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir., infested by the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg), was compared with that originating from uninfested trees during a cyclic year of heavy seedfall (1969) in western North Carolina. Cones were significantly shorter and seed uniformly lighter and smaller from trees infested by the aphid. X-ray examination indicated the number of full seed from uninfested trees averaged nearly 70% and 42% higher than in comparable seed samples from infested trees. Germination tests indicated viability of seed from infested trees exceeded 32% and that from uninfested trees exceeded 75%. An important factor affecting survival of seed from the two sources appeared to be the relative susceptibility of seed to attack by Megastigmus specularis Walley. Almost 28% more seed were destroyed by these seed chalcids for aphid-infested trees than for uninfested trees.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 105 , Issue 5 , May 1973 , pp. 673 - 680
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1973

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References

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