THE LARCH CASEBEARER (LEPIDOPTERA: COLEOPHORIDAE) AND ITS PARASITES: I. MAINTAINING YEAR-ROUND AVAILABILITY OF LARCH FOLIAGE AND THE CASEBEARER FOR PARASITE REARING

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Abstract
Foliage on potted trees or cut branches of western larch, Larix occidentalis Nutt., served as food for rearing Coleophora laricella (Hbn.) during winter and spring. Potted trees were induced to flush by laboratory simulation of fall, winter, and spring to provide foliage the year around. The treatment was 2 months at a short-day photoperiod (SD = 12-h light: 12-h dark), followed by 2 months of darkness at 2 °C, then growth in a greenhouse at long day (LD = 18-h light: 6-h dark). C. laricella could be collected from the field for further rearing during much of the year. Year-round availability of all stages, however, was realized by rearings starting from laboratory-mated moths and eggs laid on potted trees. To promote continued development to the adult stage, a SD-LD-SD sequence of 6 weeks – 2 weeks – 3 weeks duration, then LD was imposed.