Surviving in a Frozen Forest: the Physiology of Eastern Spruce Budworm Overwintering
Katie E. Marshall, Amanda D. Roe
Abstract
The eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana, is one of North America’s most destructive forest insects. It survives the harsh winters by deploying both a sophisticated diapause program and a complex suite of cryoprotective molecules. The spruce budworm’s cryoprotective biochemistry could revolutionize organ storage and transplants. Here we review the latest in C. fumiferana overwintering physiology and identify emerging theoretical and practical questions that are open for exploration.
Topics & Concepts
Spruce budwormChoristoneura fumiferanaOverwinteringDiapauseBiologyEcologyLepidoptera genitaliaTortricidaeLarvaInsect and Arachnid Ecology and BehaviorInsect and Pesticide ResearchFire effects on ecosystems