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

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
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1973

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