Notes on the Life History and Habits of the Spruce Cone Worm, Dioryctria reniculella (Grt.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

Dioryctria reniculella may be occasionally found in abundance feeding on cones and foliage of spruce in Quebec. In this paper, the life history, habits, and description of immature stages as yet unreported in the literature are presented, along with short notes on populations and natural control organisms.

Biology and management of North American cone-feedingDioryctriaspecies

“…Like those of other Dioryctria species (McLeod and Daviault 1963;Ebel 1965;Pasek and Dix 1989), newly laid D. abietivorella eggs are creamy white and turn reddish as development progresses (unpublished data). The dark head capsule of the embryo is discernible through the chorion prior to egg hatch (McLeod and Daviault 1963;Pasek and Dix 1989), which occurs approximately 7 days after oviposition at 25 uC for D. abietivorella (unpublished data) and in 324 days at 27 uC for D. ebeli (Ebel 1965). At 25 uC, with a 16L:8D light cycle, D. abietivorella larvae develop through five (occasionally six) instars within 23 days (Trudel et al 1995).…”

“…Blanchard and Knudson 1983;Hedlin et al 1980;Neunzig 2003;pygmaeella Bald cypress Pondcypress, Taxodium ascendens Brongn. Heinrich 1956;Hedlin et al 1980;Neunzig 2003 ;Heinrich 1956;Munroe 1959;McLeod and Daviault 1963;Prentice 1965;Mutuura and Munroe 1973;Hedlin et al 1980;Neunzig 2003 Table 1 (continued).…”

“…Evolution in this group is likely driven by the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of cone crops and niche separation of sympatric species. Cone-feeding Dioryctria species that exploit highly variable annual seed crops tend to use a wide range of host genera; Dioryctria species that feed on less ephemeral tissue types (e.g., cambium) can be restricted to a single host (McLeod and Daviault 1963;Neunzig 2003). Polyphagy, here defined as feeding on more than one conifer genus, is a successful feeding strategy for some Dioryctria species and appears to be linked to pest status in the genus.…”

AMERICAN SPECIES OF DIORYCTRIA (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE): IV. THE SCHUETZEELLA GROUP AND THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF THE SPRUCE CONE MOTH

“…Prentice et al (1965) listed as hosts various spruces and firs, Douglas-fir, tamarack, cedar, and various pines. McLeod and Daviault ( 1963 ) summarize additional records of feeding on spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) , and note that the young larvae are occasional predators of a spruce needle miner, Eucordylea piceaella (Kearfott). On the other hand, two specimens recorded from second-year cones of Pinus contorta in Montana (Figs.…”

“…Penis with numerous small cornuti but without separate large cornutus. Dioryctria reniculella, McLeod andDaviault, 1963 : 309. Spinose patches of bursa somewhat restricted, with the more distal spines forming a narrow, oblique, double band, often coiled and wrinkled in specimens with shrunken bursa.…”