Western White Pine: The Effect of Clone and Cone Color on Attacks by the Mountain Pine Cone Beetle

The relationship between clone and cone color in western white pine, Pinus monticola Douglas, to attack by the mountain pine cone beetle, Conophthorus monticolae Hopkins, was studied in the Sandpoint Seed Orchard, Idaho. A positive relationship was shown to exist during a 5 year field evaluation. Co...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jenkins, Michael J
Format: Others
Published: DigitalCommons@USU 1982
Subjects:
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7319
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8412&context=etd
Description
Summary:The relationship between clone and cone color in western white pine, Pinus monticola Douglas, to attack by the mountain pine cone beetle, Conophthorus monticolae Hopkins, was studied in the Sandpoint Seed Orchard, Idaho. A positive relationship was shown to exist during a 5 year field evaluation. Cone beetles were found to prefer dark colored cones and to attack certain clones at a higher rate than others. Laboratory dissections did not indicate that cone color affected oviposition, brood development or brood mortality. Olfactometer experiments demonstrated that olfactory stimuli are involved in the cone beetle attack sequence. Visual cues relating to cone color may be involved in the initial long range host orientation of attacking beetles.