LIFE-HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE WHITE-PINE CONE BORER, EUCOSMA-TOCULLIONANA (LEPIDOPTERA, TORTRICIDAE)

The life history of the white pine cone borer, Eucosma tocullionana He inrich, was studied from 1992 to 1994 in an eastern white pine seed or chard in Ontario. Adults flew from late May to early July, and egg lay ing commenced in mid-June. Oviposition coincided with the onset of whi te pine pollen release. Eggs were laid singly or in clusters on cones, with most of the eggs laid on the basal third of the cone. Head capsu le measurements indicated five instars. Larvae fed in cones from mid-J une to the end of August. Mature larvae exited the cones and dropped t o the ground to pupate. The insect is univoltine. Parasitism by the Hy menoptera, Trichogramma and Apanteles, accounted for 5% of the eggs an d 1% of the larvae, respectively. About 40% of the larvae died from be ing entrapped in resin. There were no significant differences in attac k rates by E. tocullionana within the tree except in the middle level, where the south quadrant had significantly higher rates than the nort h quadrant.