BULLETIN OF THE 



i 



No. 95. 



Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology, L. O. Howard, Chief 

 July 9, 1914. 



INSECT DAMAGE TO THE CONES AND SEEDS OF PACIFIC 



COAST CONIFERS. 1 



By John M. Miller, 

 Entomological Assistant, Forest Insect Investigations. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Recent damage by insects to the cones and seeds of conifers 

 has been brought to notice by the collectors of forest seeds. Com- 

 pared with other commercial seeds the market price of forest seeds 

 is high, owing to the limited demand, the special knowledge required 

 for their collection, and the irregular production of conifer crops. 

 A heavy percentage of damage materially decreases the profits of seed 

 collection and may result in time and money fruitlessly spent. Seed 

 that is badly infested or damaged by insects can not be sold to 

 reliable dealers when its character is recognized. 



It has been found that insects sometimes destroy practically all 

 of the seed crop of a tree species in one locality in a season. In this 

 respect insects have a certain relation to the future supply of timber, 

 as the natural reproduction of forests is assured only by the produc- 

 tion of a prolific supply of uninjured seed. (PL I, fig. a.) The 

 artificial reforestation of denuded areas must also depend upon the 

 collection of sound forest seed. An example of how insects may 

 interfere with reforestation by a desired species has been furnished 

 by the white fir on western national forests. Much of the seed of 

 this species collected recently has been worthless for planting, a 

 great percentage of this loss being due to insect damage in the cones 

 and seeds. 



Some information regarding insects that affect foiest seeds and 

 reproduction has been given in previous publications of the Bureau 



1 The names of the insects are not mentioned in this preliminary contribution because many of them are 

 not yet named or described. When this has been done it is intended that a special bulletin on the subject 

 shall be prepared by the same author. — A. D. Hopkins, in Charge of Forest Insect Investigations. 



Note. — Information regarding insects that seriously affect forest seeds, especially in the coniferous 

 forests of the Pacific coast. A practical paper, of interest to seed collectors, dealers in forest seeds, and 

 planters of forest areas ; of particular application to Pacific coast regions. 

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