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University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 A Xerox Education Company 73-12,724 HAIN, Fred Paul, 1944- THE BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF THE PINE CANDLE MOTH, Exoteleia nepheos, ON SCOTCH PINE IN m i c h i g SFT: Michigan State University, Ph.D., 1972 Entomology University Microfilms, A XEROXCompany , Ann Arbor, Michigan THE BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF THE PINE CANDLE MOTH, Exoteleia nepheos, ON SCOTCH PINE IN MICHIGAN By Fred Paul Hain A THESIS Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Entomology 1972 PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company ABSTRACT THE BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF THE PINE CANDLE MOTH, Exoteleia nepheos,1/ ON SCOTCH PINE IN MICHIGAN By Fred Paul Hain The pine candle moth.iL/ Exoteleia nepheos, poses a serious threat to plantation and ornamental pines. It mines in Scotch pine needles during the early stages of larval development and enters the bud during the fir s t flush of spring growth, thereby destroying the tree's aesthetic appearance and value as a Christ mas tree. Heavily attacked trees are severely stunted and event ually die. Adults are active from mid-June to mid-August, ovi positing in needle sheaths or along twigs. Eggs hatch in about 10 days with larvae overwintering in the needles where high wint er mortality may occur. Parasitism by Copidosoma deceptor M iller (Encyrtidae) is an important biological factor in controlling E_. nepheos. Approximately 37.63% of the population in one Michigan stand was parasitized and about 80% of this was by C^. deceptor. Peak emergence of the pine candle moth will occur 1060 ± 32 degree days above 52° F. threshold temperature. Insecticides, parasites, pheromones and host resistance were investigated for their potent ial use in an integrated control program. Guthioi^, diazinon and Fred Paul Hain methoxychlor gave excellent control but Meta-Systox-^ had the least effect on the parasites of the pine candle moth while significantly reducing the pest population. Granular systemics applied to the soil were ineffective in controlling the pest. A pheromone, produc ed by the females and attracting the males, was discovered and found most effective at distances of 3 m. or less. But in a screening test of various chemical materials, the actual compound could not be identified. Attempts to investigate host resistance within var- ities of Scotch pine were not successful as the a rtific ia l experi mental techniques were not conducive to establishing any attack pattern. —^ Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae —^ Common name accepted by the Entomological Society of America for Exoteleia nepheos, 7 February 1972. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to Drs. William E. Wallner and Dean L. Haynes, and Mr, John H. Newman of the Department of Entomology, and to Dr. J. W, Wright of the Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, and to Dr. Louis F. Wilson of the USDA Forest Service for their advice and encouragement, and also to the numerous Michigan Christmas tree growers for their cooperation. I would also like to thank Drs. James W. Butcher, Gordon E. Guyer, James W. Hanover and S. N. Stephenson for reviewing the manuscript. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................. v INTRODUCTION.................................................................................. 1 LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................... 3 Biology.................................................................................. 3 Insecticides ............................... 4 Attractants ......................................................................... 5 Host Resistance ................................................................ 6 BIONOMICS OF THE PINE CANDLE MOTH..................................... 8 Materials and Methods ...................„ ............................... 8 Life History and Damage .................................................. 10 Parasitoids. ...... .............................................. 18 Adult Eclosion Period ........................................* . 20 MANAGEMENT OF PINE CANDLE MOTH POPULATIONS.................. 25 Materials and Methods. .................................................. 25 Chemical Control ................................................... 28 Attractants .............................................................................. 34 Host Resistance ..................................................................... 40 DISCUSSION........................................................................................... 42 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS......................................... 45 LITERATURE CITED.............................................................................. 47 APPENDICES........................................................................................... 51 i i i LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Head capsule width measurements of Exoteleia nepheos ....................................................................................... 13 2. Relative rates of parasitism on Exoteleia nepheos during 1970 ........................................................... 20 3. Influence of granular soil system!cs on the pine candle moth ..........................................................................31 4. Influence of granular soil systemics on the parasites of the pine candle moth ...................................31 5. Control of the pine candle moth with chemical sprays-1969.................................................................................. 32 6. Control of the pine candle moth with chemical sprays-1971.....................................................................................33 7. Effect of chemical sprays on parasites of the pine candle moth ............................................. 33 8. Screening of materials as attractants for Exoteleia nepheos ................................................................ 37 9. Susceptibility of 15 varieties of Pinus sylvestris to attack by Exoteleia nepheos when caged on in dividual branches........................................................................41 i v LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Michigan counties with known infestations of the pine candle moth (1971) ................................* ...................... 9 2. Seasonal development of the pine candle moth in Michigan ........................................................................................... 11 3. Stages, damage and parasitism of the pine candle moth.................................................................................................... 12 4. Head capsule widths of 208 larvae of the pine candle moth .................................................................................. 14 5. Head capsule lengths of 203 larvae of the pine candle moth. ..................................................................... 15 6. Sex differential of Exoteleia nepheos ........................ 17 7. Threshold temperature of larval development. 22 8. Adult emergence of Exoteleia nepheos from 1969, 1970, 1971 ....................................................................................... 23 9. Pheromone traps and field cages ................................................29 10. Distance adult females, Exoteleia nepheos, could attract males from a Scotch pine stand ...................... 35 v INTRODUCTION The pine candle moth, Exoteleia

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