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Pine Cone

Cone Insects

Cone Beetles

Conophthorus sp.

Location: British Columbia to California, as well as Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.

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Impact significance:  C. ponderosae associated with sugar pine is the most destructive of the western Conophthorus cone beetles. In sugar pine seed orchards it can destroy up to 75% of sugar pine seeds in some years, making is a very important pest. 

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Hosts:  Ponderosae, lodgepole, Jeffrey, Sugar and Western White pines. 

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Biology:  Adults bore into the pedicles of immature, second year pine cones in the spring and dig a tunnel along the length of the cone, where the female deposits her eggs. Larvae then feed on the scales and tissues of the cones. Larvae pupate within the cone and adults overwinter on the soil in fallen cones.  

Recommended Literature

  • Vega, Fernando and R. Hofstetter. Bark Beetles: Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species.  Academic Press, 2015.

  • Kegley, S. 2010. Management Guide for Mountain Pine Cone Beetle. US Forest Service.

  • Furniss, M.M. 1997. Conophthorus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) infesting lodgepole pine cones in Idaho. Envir. Entomol. 26(4): 855-858.

  • Furniss, M.M. 1997. Conophthorus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) infesting lodgepole pine cones in Idaho. Envir. Entomol. 26(4): 855-858.

Pine Seed Worm

Dioryctria spp.

Location: Widely distributed across North America.

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Impact significance:  Larvae of Dioryctria are among the most serious pests of cone in the South and West. 

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Hosts:  Pines, spruce, Douglas-fir, true firs, and arborvitae.

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Biology:  Larvae feed on soft, smooth bark and bore in to terminal or lateral shoots, cones and galls.  They do not feed on foliage. When twig bark is injured, the terminal portion beyond the site of the injury usually dies.  A dead flag remains as a symptom. Larvae overwinter inside the host and complete their growth in the spring. 

Recommended Literature

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Defoliators

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