There are usually several steps between the collection in the field and the com- 

 pleted collection record. Many collections are of immature insect stages that 

 require rearing in the laboratory. Rearing provides answers on the amount of 

 parasitism by parasite species and rearing is often necessary in identifying the 

 host insect. 



Placing all of this information on punch cards will allow the data to be easily 

 extracted at any time. 



^ White Spruce Cone and Seed Study- -A study of white spruce cone and seed 

 damage caused by insects was started in 1958. This is part of a long-term 

 cooperative study with Forest Management Research on the natural regenera- 

 tion of white spruce in Interior Alaska. 



Cones were collected in late August of both 1958 and 1959 along several high- 

 ways leading out of Fairbanks. Collections were made after cone maturity but 

 before seed fall. In 1958 180 cones were collected and in 1959 240 cones. The 

 1958 cone crop rating averaged 9, defined as "many cones on 75 percent of the 

 trees, some cones on all trees". In 1959 the cone crop rating averaged 4-- 

 "few cones on 25 percent of the trees, many cones on occasional trees". 



In 1958 insect damage was light with only 1. 9 percent of the seed destroyed by 

 Megastigmus sp. and 4.2 percent of the cones infested by Laspeyresia youngana 

 Kearfott. Other insects, although present were not significant. 



In 1959 insect caused damage increased, 2. 8 percent of the seed were destroyed 

 by Megastigmus sp. and 14.2 percent of the cones were infested by Laspeyresia 

 youngana . Gall midges were found in 70.2 percent of the cones and an as yet 

 unidentified insect or insects caused extensive damage to 71.4 percent of the 

 cones. Many of the cones supported populations of several different insects. 



Collecting all of the samples in one brief period has made it difficult to appraise 

 certain types of insect-caused damage. Additional samples obtained midway in 

 the period of cone development would help in evaluating damage. 



^ Spear-marked Black Moth Study--In 1957 a large outbreak of the spear- 

 marked black moth (Eulype hastata (L.)) (fig. 4) developed in paper birch 

 ( Betul a papyr ifera Marsh.) stands in the vicinity of Fairbanks. This outbreak 

 posed a threat to many birch stands in the area, including some of sufficient 

 esthic value to warrant consideration of control measures. A nearly complete 

 lack of information on the insect led to a study of its biology and control in 1958. 

 It was originally planned to continue this study through at least two seasons but 

 with a drastic reduction in the population in the late summer of 1958, the study 

 was discontinued. 



11 



