Strobilomyia laricicola (Karl, 1828)

on Larix

parasite

Oviposition, mostly a single egg, generally on a needle at the base of an then still very young cone. The emerging larve first consumes the seeds at the base of a cone scale, then starts a spirally trajectory af about three loops around the cone axis, eating all seeds it encounters. When almost fully fed it makes a tunnel in length of the axis, leaves the axis, eats a bit more, then leaves the cone and drops to the ground where a puparium is made in de litter under the tree. There is one generation. Not a word about galling of the cone.

hostplants

Pinaceae, monophagous

Larix decidua, gmelinii, kaempferi, sibirica.

distribution within Europe

(PESI, 2018).

synonyms

Lasiomma, Phorbia, laricicola.

larva

cephalic skeleton of the 3rd instar larva (from Roques ao, 1984a)

notes

Mainly a species of altitudes above 1400 m. Considered a pest in forestry, but until 1965 often confused with other species of the genus.

references

Dušek (1969a), Michselsen (1988b), Roques, Martinez & Deplanque (1983a), Roques, Raimbault & Deplanque (1984a).