Determining the phenology of the pine bark adelgid (Pineus strobi) in southwestern Virginia

The pine bark adelgid, Pineus strobi (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), is a native herbivore of eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, in eastern North America. Little is known of this adelgid’s phenology or impact on P. strobus. Like other adelgid species, the pine bark adelgid is a phloem feeding insect with limited mobility. Spending the majority of its lifetime anchored to a single location on a tree, it can be found on either the bark, stem, or needle base. Though rarely damaging to trees in its native range, the pine bark adelgid may be more problematic in Europe, where it has been introduced. The only known predator to specialize on pine bark adelgid is Laricobius rubidus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), which is closely related to Laricobius nigrinus, a biological control agent introduced for hemlock woolly adelgid.  Recently it was found that the two predator species successfully hybridize and produce fertile offspring. For these reasons, it is important to better understand pine bark adelgid and its associated predators.The present study aims to characterize the pine bark adelgid’s life history, natural enemies, and impacts in Virginia forests.