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Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth (Orgyia Pseudotsugata Mcdunnough) on Subalpine Fir in Northern Utah

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Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth (Orgyia Pseudotsugata Mcdunnough) on Subalpine Fir in Northern Utah Great Bm;in Naturalist 515(2), © 19915, pp. 158~163 DOUGLAS-FIR TUSSOCK MOTH (ORGYIA PSEUDOTSUGATA MCDUNNOUGH) ON SUBALPINE FIR IN NORTHERN UTAH E. Matthew Hansen 1 ABsTHN;'J:-Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orj!,yia pseudot~ugata McDunnough) defoliation was detected by aerial sur­ vey on three areas of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in 1990 and 1991. These are the first documented tussock moth outbreaks in Utah. Ground surveys revealed that subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa [Hook.] Nutt.) was heavily defoli­ ated during the outbreak. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco), though a minor component in the affected areas, had noticeably less defoliation and mortality. Adjacent stands of Douglas-fir had little or no visible tussock moth activity. Defoliation on suhalpine fir was typically found evenly distributed throughout the crown rather than concen­ trated at the top. Ninety-four percent of subalpine fir with defoliation ratings of 90% or more were killed. Top-kill occurred on nearly one-half of subalpine firs defoliated 2I5-89%. Heavily defoliated. trees tended to occur in pockets bounded by areas of light defoliation. After three consecutive years of defoliation, tussock moth populations collapsed. No life stuges were detected in 1993 from visual inspections of foliage or in pheromone traps. Key words: tussock moth, subalpine fir, defoliators, DOU.gla.~-fil; UtahfiJrests, forest insects. The Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgyia Interestingly, the first record oftussock moth pseudotsugata McDunnough) is a significant defoliation in the United States was on sub­ defoliator of Douglas-fir and true firs through­ alpine fir at Jarbidge, NY, in 1927 (Balch 1930). out its host range in western North America. Affected areas were of subalpine HI' occurring Tussock moth outbreaks on the Wasatch­ either purely or in mixture with limber pine Cache National Forest, UT, from 1990 to 1992 (Pinw; flexilis James). These two conifers and were unique because subalpine fir (Abies lasio­ quaking aspen (Populw; trernuloides Michx.) carpa [Hook.] Nutt.) experienced greater defo­ formed Virtually the entire forest at Jarbidge liation and mortality than Douglas-fir (Pseudo­ (Balch 1932) in contrast to the Utah sites that tsuga rnenziesii [Mirb.] Franco). These tussock contain or are surrounded by substantial moth infestations are the first documented Douglas-fir. Balch's records are the only litera­ outbreaks in Utah (Ollieu 1978, Tunnock ct aI. ture indicating subalpine fir to be a principal 1985). host, while more recent authors consider the Previous tussock moth outbreaks indicate species to be secondary (Wickman et a!. 1981, Berryman 1988). three primary hosts depending on location. In The objective of this study was to docu­ British Columbia and northern Washington, ment the effects of these ontbreaks on sub­ Douglas-fir is preferred; in southern Washing­ alpine fir. Information will be used to predict ton, Oregon, and Idaho, Douglas-fir, white fir future impacts of tussock moth defoliation on !Abies concolor [Gord. and Glend.]), and grand subalpine fir resource, This report summarizes fir (A. g"andis [Doug!.] Lind!.) are preferred; stand conditions following infestation and in California, Nevada, Arizona, and New attempts to characterize the effects of defolia­ Mexico, white fir is preferred (Wickman et aI. tion on individual trees. 1981). In these areas subalpine fir and other membcrs ofthe pine hnnily are typically defoli­ METHODS ated after the preferred host is consumed. The Wasatch-Cache National Forest outbreaks Aerial detection surveys delineated tussock experienced light defoliation of Douglas-fir moth activity near the Baxter Sawmill site, within stands of completely defoliated sub­ Ogden Ranger District, Wasatch-Cache Nation­ alpine fir. al Forest, UT, in 1990. Additional infestations IUSDA l'\ll'esl Se1'vice, For"sl Pest Management, 4746 South HX)O East, OgJen, UT 84403. 158 1995J TUSSOCK MOTH ON SUBALPINE FIR 159 were detected at Blind Hollow and Amazon ratings from 1992 and 1993 were used to de­ Hollow, Logan Ranger District, Wasatch-Cache termine defoliation effects on tree condition, National Forest, UT, in 1991. Subsequent ground surveys confirmed tussock moth popu­ RESULTS lations at these locations. A total of 35 pairs of 20 basal-area-factor Blind Hollow variable plots and 1/300 ac seedling/sapling Prior to the outbreak, composition of all fixed plots were established in July 1992 at the live trees greater than 5 inches DBH was 69% three areas. Plots were installed along a tran­ subalpine fir, 28% aspen, and 3% Douglas-fir. sect at IOO-m intervals starting from a refer­ Total pre-outbreak live basal area was 178.9 sq ence point in areas with visible defoliation. No ftlac. By 1993 live basal area was reduced to other attempt was made to randomize plot 166.8 sq ftlac. Site elevations range from 7800 locations or to cover the entire affected area. to 8100 ft. Aspect ranges from southwest to Tree data collected include species, diameter south to east on slopes varying from 10 to at breast height (DBH), height, age, 5- and 10­ 50%. year radial growth, insect/disease damage, and Subalpine fir seedlings and saplings (0-4.9 an ocular estimate of percent defoliation. inches DBH) were significantly affected by Additionally, the distal 18 inches of three ran­ tussock moth. Sixty stems per acre in this size domly selected lower crown branches on all class representing 25% of the stocking were host species were examined for pupae or egg killed (Table 1). Pole-sized subalpine fir (5--8.9 masses. inches DBH) were more frequently defoliated Plots were remeasured in July 1993 to eval­ than larger diameter classes. Fifty-eight per­ uate changes in insect-related tree injury and cent of stems 5-8.9 inches DBH, 34% ofstems mortality, percent defoliation, and presence of 9-11.9 inches DBH, and 39% of stems >12 tussock moth life stages. One pair of plots at inches DBH were defoliated. Stems exhibiting Baxter Sawmill was cut and lost during salvage top-kill increased proportionately with per­ operations. To maximize data-collection con­ cent defoliation. Four percent of subalpine fir sistency, the same individual conducted defoli­ stems over 5 inches DBH were killed by tus­ ation estimates on 32 of 35 plots for plot estab­ sock moth. lishment and remeasurement. In the >12-inches diameter class, none of INDIDS, the insect and disease damage 7.3 Douglas-fir per acre were visibly defoliat­ survey program (Bousfield et al. 1985), was ed (Table 1). Among subalpine fir in this class, used to calculate per-acre average stand char­ 3% of 65.1 per acre were defoliator killed. acteristics. Individual tree defoliation ratings Twenty-eight percent survived defoliation, were classified into the five categories of while 69% were not visibly defoliated. Weatherby et al. (1992): (1) undamaged, (2) Western balsam bark beetle (Dryocoetes con­ lightly defoliated (1-24% of total needle com­ fusus Swaine) killed 4.9 subalpine fir stems per plement defoliated), (3) moderately defoliated acre. These trees were attacked in 1991, coin­ (25-74%), (4) heavily defoliated (75-89%), and ciding with the peak of the tussock moth out­ (5) very heavily defoliated (90+%). Defoliation break. TABLE 1. Trees per acre condition summary of subalpine fir and Douglas-fir following a Douglas-fir tussock moth out­ break, Blind Hollow, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, July 1993. Summary calculated from 10 variable/fixed plot pairs. SAF = subalpine fir, DF = Douglas-fir. Defoliation class Diameter Undamaged Light Moderate Heavy Very heavy Mortality class SAF DF SAF DF SAF DF SAF DF SAF DF SAF DF 0-4.9" 30.0 0.0 120.0 0.0 30.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 60.0 0.0 5-8.9" 39.0 0.0 16.0 0.0 18.5 0.0 6.0 0.0 6.2 0.0 6.0 0.0 9-11.9" 25.9 2.9 7.0 0.0 6.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 12" + 40.0 7.3 13.4 0.0 4.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.1 0.0 160 GREAT BASIN NATURALIST [Volume 55 The 1992 survey found an average of 3.1 The 1992 survey found an average of 4.8 pupae and 0.5 egg masses per three-branch pupae and 1.2 egg masses per three branches samples. The 1993 survey found no current sampled. No current life stages were found in life stages on any sample tree, and no life 1993 on the plots or in the area. Additionally, no stages were visible in the area. tussock moths were caught in pheromone traps placed in tbe Baxter Sawmill area in 1993. Baxter Sawmill Prior to the outbreak, composition for all Amazon Hollow live trees greater than 5 inches DBH was 65% Prior to the outbreak, compusition of all subalpine lir, 25% aspen, and 10% Douglas-Hr. live trees greater than 5 inches DBH was 73% Total live basal area was 176.1 sq ftlae at the subalpine fir, 24% aspen, 2% Douglas-fir, and onset of the outbreak. Live basal area in 1993 1% lodgepule pine. Total live basal area was was 112.8 sq ft/ac. Site elevations range from 12.5.5 sq ftfac at the ouset of the outbreak. 7400 to 7900 ft. Aspect is south, southwest, Live basal area in 1993 was 72.2 sq ftfac. Site west, and northwest on slopes varying from 10 elevations range from 7500 to 7800 ft. Aspect to 30%. is east on slopes vaJying from 10 to 25%. Subalpine llr seedlings and saplings had One-hundred subalpine fir seedlings and considerable defoliator damage. More than saplings per acre, or 10% of stocking in that 250 seedlings and saplings per acre, or 55% of class, were killed (Table 3).
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