Cono- and seminiphagous insects of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. and their parasitoids in lower and upper montane zone of the Tatra National Park in Poland

A study of the insects inhabiting of cones of Norway spruce Picea abies (L. ) Karst. in the Tatra National Park was conducted during 1987-92. As a resu lt of breeding and analyses of the cones collected from trees at various al titudes above sea level, 53 746 specimens of cono- and seminiphagous insect s were collected. Interior damage to cones and the losses of spruce seeds c aused by pests were measured, with regard both to the variable cone crop ab undance of spruce and to different altitudes above sea level. The role of p arasitoids in limiting the numbers of some cono- and seminiphagous insects was also estimated.