Use of pityol to reduce damage by the white pine cone beetle, Conophthorus coniperda (Col., Scolytidae) in seed orchards

Abstract

Abstract: The white pine cone beetle, Conophthorus coniperda (Schwarz), is a common and destructive pest of eastern white pine cones. The potential of mating disruption as a pest management tool against C. coniperda was tested during this experiment. The 5.5 ha white pine seed orchard used in this study was separated in three equal sections and different blocks were treated with pityol over 2‐year experiments. Ten and 20 pityol dispensers (bubble caps) were hung per treated block in 2001 (east block) and 2002 (centre block), respectively, to evaluate their impact on cone protection. During both seasons, the percentage of damaged cones at permanent stations was evaluated at monthly intervals in the middle of the treated block and at different places in the control area. For both years, the mean reduction in cone damage was 63.7% in the pheromone‐treated blocks. With this study, we have been able to demonstrate that mating disruption could be used as a biological pest management tool for the control of C. coniperda in white pine seed orchards.