Systemic Insecticide Injections for Control of Cone and Seed Insects in Loblolly Pine Seed Orchards—2 Year Results

Three systemic insecticide treatments, emamectin benzoate alone, imidacloprid alone, and a combination of emamectin benzoate and thiamethoxam, were injected one or two times into loblolly pine,Pinus taeda L., during a 2 yr period in a seed orchard in east Texas. Single injections of treatments containing emamectin benzoate reduced coneworm (Dioryctria spp.) damage by 94–97% during the study period. A second injection after 1 yr did not improve protection. Imidacloprid also significantly reduced coneworm damage in 1999, but not in 2000. Significant reductions in damage from pine seed bugs (Tetyra bipunctata Say andLeptoglossus corculus Herrich-Schaffer) and an increase in the number of full seeds per cone resulted from imidacloprid and thiamethoxam treatments and to a lesser extent from emamectin benzoate. Yearly injections of imidacloprid or thiamethoxam were required to maintain protection against seed bugs. The best overall treatment, two injections of emamectin benzoate plus thiamethoxam, reduced cone and seed losses from insects by 86%. South. J. Appl. For. 26(3):146–152.

CONESYS: A Data Collection, Database, and Decision Support System for Making Insect Pest Management Decisions in Seed Orchards

This paper provides an overview of CONESYS, a computer software package designed to assist seed orchard managers to collect, process, and store information about the quality and quantity of seed orchard crops. CONESYS also contains a database on cone and seed insects, registered pest control products and their efficacy, and a decision support program that determines the costs and benefits of various pest management options. North. J. Appl. For. 15(3):154-157.

Status of cone and seed insect pest management in Canadian seed orchards

Many of Canada's conifer seed orchards are entering their productive phase. In most, if not all seed orchards, insect pest management will be required in order to meet the seed production targets. Canadian seed orchard managers will soon need to know the basic requirements and what information is available to implement an insect pest management program. In this review, a synthesis is provided of the major components of an integrated pest management program for cone and seed insects. A list of the insect pests of conifer cones and seeds in Canada as well as features of their life cycles and population dynamics that could influence pest management strategies is presented. Current and future needs for insect damage appraisal and insect monitoring techniques are discussed. Finally, the various strategies and tactics to control insects are reviewed. Key words: conifer seed orchards, cone insects, seed insects, pest management strategies, integrated pest management