Biology Commons^™

Western White Pine: The Effect Of Clone And Cone Color On Attacks By The Mountain Pine Cone Beetle, Michael J. Jenkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The relationship between clone and cone color in western white pine, Pinus monticola Douglas, to attack by the mountain pine cone beetle, Conophthorus monticolae Hopkins, was studied in the Sandpoint Seed Orchard, Idaho. A positive relationship was shown to exist during a 5 year field evaluation. Cone beetles were found to prefer dark colored cones and to attack certain clones at a higher rate than others.

Laboratory dissections did not indicate that cone color affected oviposition, brood development or brood mortality.

Olfactometer experiments demonstrated that olfactory stimuli are involved in the cone beetle attack sequence. Visual cues relating to cone …