Suitability of North American Tree Species to the Gypsy Moth:

A Summary of Field and Laboratory Tests

Abstract

As the gypsy moth expands its range into new portions of the United States, there is a need to predict which tree species will be attacked by this defoliating insect. There have been several studies describing feeding preferences of the gypsy moth, but these results have not been summarized in a single list. We report and summarize all of the major tests of foliage suitability to gypsy moth for tree species that are found in the United States. Foliage suitability to gypsy moth is a trait that is correlated among closely related species. As a result, it is possible to extrapolate foliage suitability of North American tree species for which no screenings have been performed. A list of foliage suitability is summarized as susceptible, resistant, or immune, for every tree species in the United States.

The Authors

ANDREW M. LIEBHOLD is a research entomologist, KURT W. GOTTSCHALK is a research forester, ROSE-MARIE MUZIKA is a research ecologist, MICHAEL E. MONTGOMERY is a research entomologist, REGIS YOUNG and, KATHLEEN O'DAY are biological technicians, BROOKS KELLEY is a former computer assistant with the USDA Forest Service's, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. Liebhold, Gottschalk, Muzika, Young, and Kelley are located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Montgomery and O'Day are located in Hamden, Connecticut.

Introduction

Methods
Results
Acknowledgments
References
Table 1.--Description of suitability ranks summarized from the literature
Table 2.--Gypsy moth suitability rankings (see Table 1 for codes and references)
Table 3.--Index of common names of tree species
Table 4.--Taxonomic checklist of tree species, codes following species names describe continent of origin

Liebhold, Andrew M.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Muzika, Rose-Marie; Montgomery, Michael E.; Young, Regis; O'Day, Kathleen; Kelley, Brooks. 1995. Suitability of North American tree species to gypsy moth: a summary of field and laboratory tests. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE- . Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. P.

As the gypsy moth expands its range into new portions of the United States, there is a need to predict which tree species will be attacked by this defoliating insect. There have been several studies describing feeding preferences of the gypsy moth, but these results have not been summarized in a single list. We report and summarize all of the major tests of foliage suitability to gypsy moth for tree species found in the United States. Foliage suitability to gypsy moth is a trait that is correlated among closely related species. As a result, it is possible to extrapolate foliage suitability of North American tree species for which no screenings have been performed. A list of suitability is summarized as susceptible, resistant, or immune.

Keywords: Lymantria dispar, Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae, foliage, susceptibility

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August 1995