Annual District Reports: Forest Insect and Disease Survey ... - NFIS

3.1 INTRODUCTION
Surveys to determine the distribution and intensity of forest
insects and diseases were carried out in the Eastern District and the
southeastern part of the Southern District from the Red River east to
the Ontario boundary from May 13 to November 15. During this period
665 insect and 38 tree disease samples were submitted to the Winnipeg
and Saskatoon laboratories respectively. Approximately 37 hours and
35 minutes flying time were utilised for surveys and general sampling
in the roadless areas east of Lake Winnipeg and northward from the
Whiteshell Provincial Park to Gods Lake; of this, 27 hours and 35
minutes was chartered time and the remainder was supplied by the
Manitoba Government Air Service blr arrangement through the Renewable
Resources Branch of the Departmen of Natural Resources,
Several special collections of insect material were made for
use in research projects at the Winnipeg and other laboratories and a
method of collecting insects by use of an insecticide was tried on an
experimental basis. Sub-projects continued this season were: (1) forest
tent caterpillar egg band surveys to forecast the severity of attack in
1964; (2) sequential sampling of larch sawfly egg populations; and
(3) sampling of larch sawfly cocoons by the larval drop tray method
for parasite and disease studies.
The co-operation received from personnel of the Manitoba
Department of Mines & Natural Resources, and the Woods Department of
the Manitoba Paper Company in carrying out this work is gratefully
acknowledged.
Early spring weather was generally cool and wet, so that
foliage development was retarded in most areas. However, near-normal
weather conditions prevailed throughout the summer and the fall was
generally dry with above normal temperatures. Larch sawfly populations
generally remained at low levels but light to moderate defoliation
occurred in the East Braintree area. Jack-pine budworm populations
remained light in the Belair Forest Reserve despite a heavy pollen
crop on jack pine, but they increased in the Sandilands Forest Reserve.
The balsam-fir sawfly caused moderate to severe defoliation of spruce
near Contour, Richer, Woodridge, Menisino and Piney. The forest tent
caterpillar outbreak declined throughout most of the areas affected
in 1962, but the infestation at Big Whiteshell Lake expanded to the
southeast and one in Ontario expanded westward into Manitoba near
Waugh. A marked increase in populations of the aspen leaf beetle
was evident, particularly along the east side of Lake Winnipeg from
Victoria Beach south to the Gull Lake area, and along No. 12 Highway
from. the Zhoda area to Steinbach and near Woodridge. Increased
populations of the aspen blotch miner were recorded throughout the
District. No new infections of tree diseases were recorded, and there
was little change in the status of those previously reported in the
District.