Environmental Entomology (2014) 43, 626-631

M. Lukas Seehausen, Éric Bauce, Jacques Régnière and Richard Berthiaume (2014)
Influence of partial cutting on parasitism of endemic spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) populations
Environmental Entomology 43 (3), 626-631
Abstract: Silvicultural treatments such as thinning have been suggested as management tools against the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Among other things, parasitoids are also proposed to be influenced by silvicultural procedures, but the effect of thinning on spruce budworm's natural enemies has not been tested yet. In this study, the influence of partial cutting on parasitism of endemic spruce budworm populations has been investigated in mature balsam fir-white birch forests. Two intensities of partial cutting (25 and 40% stand basal area reduced) were conducted in 2009 and parasitism of introduced spruce budworm larvae and pupae was determined during the 3 yr after these treatments. Pupal parasitism was too low for comparison between treatments. However, 2 yr after treatments, parasitism of the fourth- and fifth-instar larvae was significantly reduced in plots with both intensities of partial cutting, which was attributed to the parasitoid Tranosema rostrale (Brischke). Three years after treatments, no significant influence of partial cutting on parasitism of spruce budworm larvae was found. This study suggests that the influence of partial cutting on parasitism of endemic spruce budworm populations is not consistent, but that under certain circumstances parasitism is reduced by partial cutting.
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Database assignments for author(s): Martin Lukas Seehausen, Jacques Regniere, Eric Bauce

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Choristoneura fumiferana	Fir (Abies)	Canada (east)
Tranosema rostrale (parasitoid)	Choristoneura fumiferana	Fir (Abies)	Canada (east)
Elachertus cacoeciae (parasitoid)	Choristoneura fumiferana	Fir (Abies)	Canada (east)
Itoplectis conquisitor (parasitoid)	Choristoneura fumiferana	Fir (Abies)	Canada (east)