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RESEARCH LABORATORY TECHNICAL REPORT

Gypsy Moth Host Preferences By The Bartlett Lab Staff Directed by Kelby Fite, PhD

Gypsy moth larvae feed on the foliage of a wide variety of woody . During heavy infestations, most and shrub will be fed upon to some extent. However, gypsy moth larvae have distinct food preferences. From the results of controlled studies and field observations, the susceptibility of tree and shrub species to gypsy moth feeding can be classified as follows: Class I, favored food plants; Class II, species that are intermediate in susceptibility; and Class III, unfavored food plants.

Species classified as favored food are readily fed upon Class I - Favored Food Plants and defoliated. In order for gypsy moth populations to reach outbreak levels, Class I species must be a (Alnus spp.) major constituent of an area. Apple ( spp.) , Bigtooth ( grandidenta) Aspen, Trembling (P. tremuloides) Species in the intermediate class will be fed upon if , American (Fagus americana) they are planted near favored food species. Significant , Gray (Betula populifera) Birch, injury seldom results unless the infestation is heavy (B. populifolia) and the favored food source is depleted. Some Class II Birch, River (B. nigra) species, including , and hemlock, will not Boxelder (Acer negundo) be fed upon by young larvae but may be defoliated by Crabapple (Malus spp.) late instars. Gypsy moth populations will not reach Hawthorne (Crategus spp.) outbreak levels in areas where Class II species Hazelnut (Corylus spp.) predominate. (Larix sp.) Linden ( spp.) Unfavored food species seldom if ever are eaten. If Mountain Ash (Sorbus spp.) , Black (Quercus velutina) Class III species are growing near favored food species, Oak, Blackjack (Q. marilandica) Oak, some light feeding may occur, however, significant Bur (Q. macrocarpa) defoliation seldom results. Gypsy moth populations Oak, (Q. prinus) cannot build up or sustain themselves where Oak, Chinkapin (Q. muehlenbergii) unfavored food species predominate. Oak, Pin (Q. palustris) Oak, Post (Q. stellata) Oak, (Q. rubra) Oak, Scarlet (Q. coccinea) Oak, Shingle (Q. imbricaria) Oak, Swamp White (Q. bicolor) Oak, White (Q. alba)

Page 1 of 2 Oak, (Q. phellos) Class III - Unfavored Food Plants Poplar, Balm of Gilead () Poplar, (P. nigra var. italica) Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) Ash (Fraxinus spp.) Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) Willow (Salix sp.) Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) Witch (Hamamelis virginiana) Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Catalpa (Catalpa spp.) Class II - Species Intermediate in Susceptibility (Abies spp.) Birch, Black (Betula lenta) Holly (Ilex spp.) Birch, Yellow (B. alleghaniensis) Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica) (Juniperus virginiana) Buckeye (Aesculus spp.) Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) Butternut ( cinera) Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Mulberry, Red (Morus rubra) Chinkapin (C. pumila) Mulberry, White (Morus alba) Cottonwood () Osage-Orange (Maclura pomifera) Cherry, Black ( serotina) Privet (Ligustrum spp.) Cherry, Choke (P. virginiana) Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Cherry, Pin (P. pennsylvanica) Sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis) Cherry, Sweet (P. avium) Tuliptree ( tulipifera) Cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata) Viburnum (Viburnum sp.) Dogwood, Flowering (Cornus florida) Walnut, Black (Juglans nigra) , American (U. americana) White-Cedar Atlantic (Chamaecyparis thyoides) Elm, English (U. procera) Elm, Slippery (U. rubra) Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) References , Bitternut (Carya cordiformis) Mosher, F. H. 1915. Food plants of the gypsy moth in Hickory, Mockernut (C. tomentosa) America. USDA Bull. No. 250, 39p. Hickory, Pignut (C. glabra) Hickory, Shagbark (C. ovata) Houston, D. R. 1979. Classifying forest susceptibility to () gypsy moth defoliation. USDA Agric. Handbook No. Hophornbeam ( virginiana) 542, 23p. (Acer spp.) Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) (Pyrus spp.) (Diospyros virginiana) (Pinus spp.) Founded in 1926, The Bartlett Tree Research Poplar, White () Laboratories is the research wing of Bartlett Tree (Prunus sp.) Experts. Scientists here develop guidelines for all of Redbud (Cercis canadensis) the Company’s services. The Lab also houses a state- Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) of -the-art diagnostic clinic and provides vital Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) technical support to Bartlett arborists and field staff Spruce (Picea spp.) for the benefit of our clients.

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