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

4.2 INSECT CONDITIONS
4.2.1 Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.):- This
budworm continued to infest white spruce stands in the West Block of
the Cypress Hills Provincial Forest, but it was not detected elsewhere
(Fig. 2). Ground and aerial surveys indicated little change in the
size of the infestations affecting some 200 acres in sections 2 and
11, tp. 8, rge. 30, W 3rd mer. and sec. 21, tp. 7, rge. 3rd•mer.
along the Battle Creek Valley but defoliation declined to light to
moderate from moderate to severe in 1962. Elsewhere in the valley,
populations were low and caused no noticeable defoliation. Egg-mass
and defoliation surveys have been carried out since 1960 to follow
the history of the outbreak. Results of these surveys, as shown in
Table 1, indicate that the outbreak has been declining steadily since
1961 and it is expected to continue its decline in 1964.
TABLE 1
Results of Egg-mass and Defoliation Surveys
Cypress Hills Provincial Forest
Years
No. of otal area
points of foliage
sampled examined
(so. ft.)
Average No. of
egg-masses per Subsequent defoliation
100 sq. ft. of (per cent) at sample points
foliage
1960 4 259 74 74
1961 17 302 149 38
1962 16 258
26 25
1963 4 71
Defoliation records to be taken July, 19614.
14.2.2 Spruce Coneworm, Dioryctria reniculella (Grote):- Recorded
only in the West Block of the Cypress Hills Provincial Forest. Larvae
occurred commonly on white spruce in association with the spruce budworm,
but populations were relatively low and caused no serious defoliation.
14.2.3 Pine Needle Scale, Phenacaspis pinifoliae (Fitch):- Occurred
on most shelterbelt and ornamental plantings of Colorado and white
spruce examined west from the Manitoba-Saskatchewan boundary to Swift
Current. The highest populations, ranging from light on some trees to
moderate on others, were noted on spruce plantings on the Forestry Farm
at Indian Head, in Wascana Park in Regina City and at Creelman, and in
farm shelterbelts in the Weyburn, Indian Head, Moose Jaw and Swift
Current areas.