Population dynamics of the Lodgepole Needle Miner, Recurvaria starki Free. (Lepidoptera: Golechiidae) in Canadian Rocky Mountain parks

A warming climate trend in the late 1930s to mid-1940s triggered an outbreak of the lodgepole needle miner, Recurvaria starki, in Canada's Rocky Mountain Parks, which declined due to subsequent colder winters. Research since 1948 identified five critical mortality periods in its two-year life cycle, with extreme cold (-30°F to -40°F) suppressing populations more effectively than parasitism or other natural controls. Life table techniques revealed that defoliation peaked between 1940 and 1944, while population decline correlated with harsher winter conditions. The study suggests that prolonged outbreaks are unlikely in this region's severe climate, emphasizing the interplay between climatic factors and insect population dynamics.

Stark, R. W. (2012). Population dynamics of the Lodgepole Needle Miner, Recurvaria starki Free. (Lepidoptera: Golechiidae) in Canadian Rocky Mountain parks. University of British Columbia. https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0106450