The white pine cone beetle, C. coniperda (Schwarz), occurs throughout the 
natural range of its host, eastern white pine, in eastern America. Apparently it 
rarely attacks cones of loblolly pine in Virginia (7354). The adult is shiny black, 
from 2.8 to 4.2 mm long, and covered with moderately long, erect hairs. 
Winter is spent in the adult stage in infested cones on the ground. These adults 
begin to emerge in late April and fly to the tops of nearby pines. When a female 
finds a suitable cone, she bores into the petiole or the base of the cone. A dark- 
reddish pitch tube marks the point of attack. Once into the cone axis, she bores 
toward the cone tip. A male joins her at this time and the tunnel is extended the full 
length of the cone (fig. 170). The larvae feed on the seed and tissues until full 
grown and then pupate in cells at the ends of the tunnels. Infested cones die and fall 
to the ground in mid to late summer. Some adults emerge during the fall but the 
majority remain in the cone until the following spring. Some of the fall-emerging 
individuals fly to the tops of pines and attack first-year conelets; the remainder stay 
on the ground where they feed on other infested cones. There is one generation per 
year. 
F-505549 
Figure 170.—Cone damage by the white pine cone 
beetle, Conophthorus coniperda. 
_ This is one of the most destructive insect pests of eastern white pine seed. Entire 
seed crops in many stands in New England have been completely destroyed (944). 
Most of the damage results from the killing of second-year cones; however, 
considerable damage also results from attacks on first-year conelets, shoots, and 
occasionally buds and male flowers. 
The red pine cone beetle, C. resinosae Hopkins, occurs in southeastern Canada 
and the northern tier of States from Maine to Minnesota. It breeds by preference in 
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