Spruce Budworm
Sana Khan
Pests in Canadian Forests
Outbreaks of Spruce Budworm occur regularly in the boreal, Great Lakes and Acadian forest regions of Canada. Spruce Budworm is an important part of forest ecosystems.
The Damage
spruce budworm is one of the most damaging native insects affecting the trees. During a major outbreak, tens of millions of hectares of trees can be extremely defoliated by the insect. An outbreak can last several years, and defoilation can damage the growth and health of softwood trees.
Outbreaks of Spruce Budworm
Years of Damage
- Between 1999 and 2001, an infestation in northeastern British Columbia damaged nearly 1.6 million hectares of trees.
- Between 2002 and 2003, an infestation in the Northwest Territories damaged 2.4 million hectares of trees
- Recent increases of this damage has been reported in Alberta
- In Ontario, a small infestation covering 850,000 hectares of trees damaged between 2006 and 2007.
Affect on trees
Life Stages
- The adult moth has a wingspread of 21 to 30 mm.
- It is grey-brown in colour with silvery white patches on the forewings.
- Light green eggs are deposited on the underside of needles in elongate masses consisting of two to 60 eggs.
- Eggs are laid in two rows,