CONELET ABORTION IN JACK PINE CAUSED BY PLATYLYGUS LURIDUS (HEMIPTERA: MIRIDAE)

Abstract

Conelet abortion in a jack pine, Pinus banksiana Lamb., seed orchard in Oneida County, Wisconsin was caused by Platylygus luridus (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) and ranged from 51% to 87% with the average 74.5% in 3 of 4 years. Adults preferred to feed on ovules in conelets and were 3 to 4 times more destructive than nymphs. When conelets were protected from this insect by coating the twig above and below the conelet with Tanglefoot^®, abortion was below 11%. Other mirid adults including Phytocoris michiganae Knight, Pilophorus amoenus Uhler, Dichrooscytus suspectus Reuter, and Europiella n.sp. confined in cages with conelets did not induce abortion.