Conifer Seedling Weevil Flashcards
Now the Conifer Seedling Weevil. Please see https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/publications/00198/conifer_seedling_weevil.htm for reference.
Yep.
What is the three letter code for this one?
IWC
What does IWC eat?
Douglas-fir, Sitka spruce (sometimes also red cedar, Western hemlock and true fir)
Where does IWC live?
Wet regions. So the CWH and ICH, and mostly Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlottes.
On cool, damp sites with lots of organic material.
How is the life cycle similar to IWW?
Larva are also long lived (2yrs), and adults are also flightless - they live for 4 yrs.
Larva eat root phloem and adults eat seedlings.
How is IWC a picky eater?
IWC is like a grumpy two year old and will pick nursery seedlings instead of natural regen, plug stock instead of bare root, and 1 year old seedlings instead of 2 year old seedlings.
What are some factors which influence extent of damage?
More damage happens if less herbs are present (on burned or site prepped areas) and if seedlings are planted next to a three year old opening (since weevils have had time to build population in logging debris).
Name the signs and symptoms.
Scattered seedling mortality from girdling at the base - if it exceeds 90%.
Adults are black with brown spots, but brick red when young.
How would you manage for IWC?
Damage is sporadic so mostly just relax and watch Netflix instead.
What do you do if there is evidence of IWC damage close by?
Plant a year after logging since logging creates a habitat, if attack happens then fill plant with two year old nursery stock.
What are the major ideas about IWC?
Fd and Ss, wet coastal regions, picky, sporadic, logging creates homes.
What is the highest mortality rate that can be expected in heavily infected seedling crops?
Approximately 50% due to girdling.
What other pathogen might IWC pass on to its host seedling?
IWC is a vector for Black-Stain root disease in Douglas-fir
What does a seedling that has been chewed on by IWC look like?
Partial or full girdling of the stem a few centimetres above the soil. Affected seedlings will turn yellow or red.
