Pine Cone Beetle

Conophthorus ponderosae Hopkins

From: Field Guide to Diseases and Insect Pests of Idaho and Montana Forests, USDA Forest Service Northern Region, Publication Number R1-89-54

Hosts. – Western white pine, Ponderosa pine.

Distribution. – Throughout Idaho and Montana.

Damage. – Second-year cones are attacked in late spring or early summer. Attacks are made at base of cone or on cone stalk. Pitch tube and boring dust often are evident at the attack site. Conductive tissues to cone are severed which causes cone to die and darken (fig. 141). Some dead cones remain on tree, others fall to the ground.

Identification. – Adult beetle is a small, black beetle about one-eighth inch long. It is similar in appearance to a small mountain pine beetle. Larvae, found within the dead cone, are small, white, legless grubs. Cones that are dried and "powdered" inside have been killed by the cone beetle (fig. 142).

Similar damage. – Cone worms will also kill developing cones, but none leaves a fine powdery residue in the dead cone as does the cone beetle.

Link to Images in Forestry Images

References.

Furniss, R. L., and V. M. Carolin. 1977.  Western For. Insects. USDA Forest Serv., Misc. pub. 1339, 654 p., illus.

Hedlen, A. F., H. O. Yates III, D. C. Tovar, B. H. Ebel, T. W. Koerber, and E. P. Merkel. 1980. Cone and seed insects of North American conifers. Can. Forest Serv., USDA For. Serv., Sec. de Agric. y Rec. Hid., Mexico. 122 p., illus.

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