The Distribution, Life History, and Economic Importance of the Winter Moth, Operophtera brumata (L.) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) in Nova Scotia

1961 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. G. Cuming
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Quercus Rubra ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Deciduous Trees ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Ulmus Americana ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Fall Cankerworm ◽  
South Shore

In the early 1930's defoliation of red oak, Quercus rubra L., white elm, Ulmus americana L., apple, Malus spp., and other deciduous trees in the South Shore region of Nova Scotia was attributed to the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harr.), and the spring cankerworm, Paleacrita vernata (Peck). The identity of the latter was questioned when adults occurred in the fall. These adults were sutbsequently identified as Operophtera brumata (L.), the winter moth (Hawboldt and Cuming, 1950; Smith, 1950).

A Note on the Association of Fall Cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria (Harr.)) with Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata (Linn.)) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

1958 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 538-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Quercus Rubra ◽  
Acer Platanoides ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Ulmus Americana ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
The Third ◽  
Norway Maple ◽  
Fall Cankerworm

The fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harr.), and the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Linn.), both feed to a great extent on the same tree species and prefer apple, Malus spp., red oak, Quercus rubra L., basswood, Tilia spp., white elm, Ulmus americana L., and Norway maple, Acer platanoides L. They also have similar life-histories and habits (Smith 1950 and 1953). Both lay their eggs on the trees in the fall and overwinter in this stage. The eggs hatch about the same time and the larvae of (both species mature about the third week in June. They drop to the ground and form cocoons at a depth of about an inch. The adults emerge about the same time, commencing usually during the last week in October and continuing until early December or until the ground freezes.

A Larval Population Technique for the Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata (Linn.) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae))

1954 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Morris ◽  
W. A. Reeks
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
North America ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Larval Population ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Fall Cankerworm ◽  
South Shore

The winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Linn.), was not known to occur in North America until 1949, when it was first reported from the south shore of Nova Scotia by Hawholdt and Cuming (2) and Smith (4). By that time this introduced species was well established. It is suspected that the winter moth in association with the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harr.), has been causing considerable defoliation of deciduous tree species in the region since the early 1930's (2). The habits and stages of the winter moth have been described briefly by Smith (S), who also has indicated the important differences between the winter moth and the fall cankerworm (4).

Sequential Sampling for Larvae of the Winter Moth, Operophtera brumata (Linn.). (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

1956 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 241-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. Reeks
Keyword(s):  
Life Histories ◽  
Sequential Sampling ◽  
Maritime Provinces ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Larval Population ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Fall Cankerworm ◽  
South Shore ◽  
Population Counts ◽  
The Relationship

The Forest Insect Survey of the Maritime Provinces has been observing an outbreak of the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Linn.), since its discovery in Nova Scotia in 1949. In addition to noting annual changes in distribution, the Survey has made population counts on 8 to 20 tagged trees of red oak, Quercus rubra L., at each of seven locations along the south shore of the Province. These trees were sampled each year to show the abundance of larvae of the winter moth and the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harr.). Both species are commonly found on the same trees, and their life histories are similar. The collections and subsequent rearings also showed the degree of parasitism by native or introduced species of parasites. The defoliation of the trees was estimated at the time of sampling and again at the end of the feeding period to determine the relationship between larval population and defoliation. Some of the sampling data, which were collected from 1952 to 1955, are used to develap the sequential plan of sampling described herein. Use of the plan at the sampling stations should reduce the number of samples while retaining accuracy within predetermined limits.

POPULATION STUDIES ON THE WINTER MOTH OPEROPHTERA BRUMATA (L.) (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) IN APPLE ORCHARDS IN NOVA SCOTIA

1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. MacPhee ◽  
A. Newton ◽  
K.B. McRae
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Deciduous Trees ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Moth Population ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Introduced Pest ◽  
Apple Production ◽  
Annapolis Valley ◽  
Natural Dispersal

AbstractThe winter moth Operophtera brumata (L.) is a serious introduced pest of apple trees in Nova Scotia. It spread westward through orchards of the Annapolis Valley in the 1950’s and to other deciduous trees throughout Nova Scotia later. The parasites Cyzenis albicans (Fall.) and Agrypon flaveolatum (Grav.) were liberated during 1961 in Nova Scotia and gradually spread throughout the winter moth population. Population dynamics studies were conducted in insecticide-free orchards and corroborated with observations in neglected unsprayed apple trees over a wide area. The winter moth population reached a balanced level in unsprayed orchards at varying densities below the limits of its food supply, but well above an acceptable level for commercial apple production. In young orchards, where trees cover a small percentage of the ground, natural dispersal of larvae appeared to be a suppressing factor. In mature orchards mortality was density dependent during the prepupal to adult stage; mortality was partly due to parasitism and predation but also to other factors.

Observations on the Spread of Cyzenis albicans (Fall.) (Tachinidae: Diptera), an Introduced Parasite of the Winter Moth, Operophtera brumata (L.), (Geometridae: Lepidoptera), in Nova Scotia

1960 ◽  
Vol 92 (11) ◽  
pp. 862-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Embree
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Larval Stages

Cyzenis albicans (Fall.) has been introduced into Nova Scotia as a control measure against the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.). The parasite attacks the late larval stages of the winter moth, pupates within the host in the ground, and emerges in the spring. The first liberations were made at Oak Hill near Bridgewater and the dates of releases as well as the numbers released were reported by Graham (1958) as follows: 1954, 31; 1955, 1008; 1956, 1005; 1957, 250. Graham made recoveries of C. albicans from rearings of larvae collected at Oak Hill in 1956 and 1957 and found that parasitism was less than two per cent both years. While liberations have been made at other locations in the Province since 1957, no further releases have been made at or near Oak Hill.

Recoveries of Introduced Species of Parasites of the Winter Moth, Operophtera brumata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), in Nova Scotia

1958 ◽  
Vol 90 (10) ◽  
pp. 595-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Made In

Five species of parasites reared from European material were released at Oak Hill, near Bridgewater, Nova Scotia from 1954 to 1956 as biotic agents against the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.) which had been established in Nova Scotia since before 1950. Recovery collections were made annually from 1955 to 1957. This work is still in progress, and in 1957 releases were made in four additional localities. Results of establishment of parasites from releases from 1954 to 1956 are reported below.

STATUS OF THE PARASITE AGRYPON FLAVEOLATUM (GRAVENHORST) (HYMENOPTERA, ICHNEUMONIDAE), INTRODUCED TO CONTROL THE WINTER MOTH IN NOVA SCOTIA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA

1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Barron
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Morphometric Analyses ◽  
History Of ◽  
Specific Variation ◽  
Host Parasite

AbstractAgrypon flaveolatum (Gravenhorst), introduced from Europe to control the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.), on apple and oak in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, was distinguished from the closely related native species, A. provancheri (Dalla Torre) and A. alaskensis (Ashmead). A detailed study of the three species revealed that they could be distinguished by specific morphological characters and by results of morphometric analyses of intra- and inter-specific variation of number of annuli of the antennal flagellum. The history of introductions of both the host and parasite is reviewed, including an account of host–parasite interactions. All of the characters defining species entities were found to be correlated with differences in host insect, host plant, and distribution.

THE EUROPEAN RED MITE, PARATETRANYCHUS PILOSUS C. & F. IN NOVA SCOTIA

1935 ◽  
Vol 13d (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. C. Gilliatt
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Natural Control ◽  
European Red Mite ◽  
Deciduous Fruit

Terminology, food plants, dispersion and economic importance of the European red mite, Paratetranychus pilosus C. & F., which affects deciduous fruit trees in America, are discussed. The mite, first observed in Nova Scotia in 1913, became of economic importance in 1925. The life history, obtained from an insectary and field study extending over a period of three years from 1930 to 1932, is recorded in detail. There are two complete generations and three partial generations in Nova Scotia. Fluctuations in temperature markedly affect mite development. Natural control of the winter eggs is important.

The Role of Introduced Parasites in the Control of the Winter Moth in Nova Scotia

1966 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
pp. 1159-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Embree
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Functional Response ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
History Of ◽  
Regulatory Properties

AbstractThe history of the winter moth, Operophtera brumata (Linnaeus), a geometrid introduced into Nova Scotia, is reviewed and an assessment is made of two introduced parasites: a tachinid, Cyzenis albicans (Fallen), and an ichneumonid, Agrypon flaveolatum (Gravenhorst). Functional response curves of both species are discussed, particularly the atypical S-shaped curve of C. albicans, which demonstrates regulatory properties. Biological control efforts to date have been successful but a virus that appeared in winter moth populations may change initial relationships between the introduced parasites and the host.

Host Plant Effects on Winter Moth (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Larval Development and Survival

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1162-1172
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn O’donnell ◽  
Joseph Elkinton ◽  
Charlene Donahue ◽  
Eleanor Groden
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Quercus Rubra ◽  
Acer Rubrum ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Operophtera Brumata ◽  
Winter Moth ◽  
Lowbush Blueberry ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract The winter moth, Operophtera brumata (L.) is an invasive forest and agricultural pest in North America that causes severe defoliation to a wide range of host species. This study examines the differential larval densities, development, and survival on seven host species in midcoast Maine: red oak (Quercus rubra L., Fagales: Fagaceae), apple (Malus domestica L., Rosales: Rosaceae) and crab apple (Malus sp. L., Rosales: Rosaceae), red maple (Acer rubrum L., Sapindales: Sapindaceae), pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L., Rosales: Rosaceae), white birch (Betula papyrifera L., Fagales: Betulaceae), wild lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustiflolium L., Ericales: Ericaceae), and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L., Ericales: Ericaceae). We also explore the degree of synchrony between selected host plants and larval hatch and its effect on survival. We found that densities, development, and survival were significantly greater on red oak (Quercus rubra) and apple (Malus sp.) than on all other target species and were lowest on pin cherry (Prunus pennsylvanica). We found low larval densities in open, wild lowbush blueberry fields; however, larvae successfully fed and developed on wild lowbush blueberry in a laboratory setting. This suggests that winter moth is a potential pest to wild lowbush blueberry in Maine if the outbreak expands to include areas with wild lowbush blueberry production.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document