The last outbreak of the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Hemerocampa pseudotsugata McD., in the Northern Region subsided in 1965. Tussock moth populations were not detected again until 1970 when ornamental spruce were defoliated in Spokane, Washington, and Poison and Missoula, Montana.
The sinuous flight behavior of male Douglas-fir tussock
moths, Orgyia pseudotsugata, (McD.), is characterized by
positive anemotaxis and positive chemoklinotaxis and varies
depending on distance from the pheromone source, population
density, and time of day. Visual cues play a minor role
in close-range orientation to a pheromone source, but
males...
The young larvae of the Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsugata (McDunnough) (DFTM) are dependent on the new foliage of its ho'sts (Doug1as-fir, grand fir, white fir) for their food supply. The phenology of the DFTM and its hosts are synchronized, with
egg hatch and dispersal occurring one to three weeks...
The objective of this report is to describe the current increase in Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsugata McDunnough) activity in northern Idaho and Montana. The report also relates current conditions to historical and future trends and larger scale increasing tussock moth activity in surrounding western states.
Loss of early instar Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsugata McDunnough) (DFTM) has been found to constitute 66-92% of intra-generation mortality and to be a key factor in inter-generation population change. This death has been attributed to dispersal and to arthropod predation, two factors previously judged more important to an endemic...
Published July 1974. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
In 1973, two centers of defoliation by Douglas-fir tussock moth totaling 350 acres were detected near Missoula, Montana. Egg mass surveys showed two sections south of Frenchtown and one section northwest of Lolo 41, contain sufficient egg mass population to cause heavy defoliation in 1974.
Douglas-fir tussock moth egg mass studies during winter 1974 indicate that natural factors such as low egg viability, egg parasitism, and virus do not alter the potential for heavy defoliation in two sections south of Frenchtown and one section northwest of Lolo, Montana.