Seasonal Population Trends and Extensive Census Methods for Hyphantria cunea

Abstract

This is the fourth in a series of papers leading to the development of population models for Hyphantria cunea Drury in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In 1961 and 1962 seasonal trends were obtained for moth eclosion, larval development, nest population, parasitism, and other factors. It is concluded that one annual census of nests from a moving vehicle can provide an effective method for comparing changes in population and natural control factors over diverse climatic areas. The timing of the census in each area is important, as well as the collection of nests for data on development, colony size, parasitism, and predation.The seasonal trends also add support to earlier hypotheses concerning the role of weather in the population dynamics of H. cunea, and reveal the nature of an important interaction between the mortality induced by weather and that induced by the main parasite, Campoplex validus Cress.