Insects Affecting Seed Production of Slash and Longleaf Pines. Their Identification and Biological Annotation.

摘要

Each year the demand intensifies for seed from trees of known geographical origin with proven or inheritable desirable traits such as superior growth rates, superior form, disease resistance, or gumproducing capability. This demand in turn has led government and industry to establish extensive seed production areas and seed orchards composed of selected trees. Seed losses to date have. been very heavy, and it is plain that natural losses of developing cones must be reduced if we are to harvest quantity seed yields from such trees. Most damage is done by insects. A three-phase research program was started during 1956 in northern Florida to study insect damage to flowers, cones, and seed of slash pine and longleaf pine. The first phase has been the identification of the insects and of their injury; the second is to study their biology; and the third is developing means for their control. The present paper is a summary of the first, or identification, phase, with biological annotation.