ON CONIFEROPHAGOUS SPECIES OF CHORISTONEURA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) IN NORTH AMERICA: II. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH FOREST REGIONS

Abstract

Field collections of late instar larvae of Choristoneura populations were obtained from a wide range of localities. These populations were found to fall into nine taxonomic entities, either species or subspecies. A tenth group is of uncertain affiliation. Five of these entities have tree species of the subfamily Abieteae as their hosts, whereas the other four (probably five) characteristically feed on species of the subfamily Pinoideae. Furthermore, each of the budworm species, or subspecies, is associated with a characteristic forest region.