GDD of Landscape Insects

The table below shows the growing degree days (GDD) for forecasting landscape insect life stages. Read about using growing degree days for integrated pest management.

GDD for forecasting landscape insect life stages

Insect

Life stage

GDD50

Relevant degree day maps

Reference

American plum borer

adult flight and egg laying

245-440

250, 300, 450

1

American plum borer

2nd generation

1375-1500

1350, 1400, 1500

1

Arborvitae leafminer

larvae in mines; 1st generation

245-360

250, 300, 350

1

Arborvitae leafminer

2nd generation

533-700

500, 600, 700

1

Arborvitae leafminer

3rd generation

1700-2100

1700, 1900, 2000

1

Balsam gall midge

adults laying eggs

150-300

150, 200, 300

3

Balsam gall midge

galls apparent

550-700

550, 650, 700

3

Balsam twig aphid

egg hatch

60-100

50, 100

4

Balsam twig aphid

stem mothers present (control target)

100-140

100, 150

4

Banded ash clearwing borer

adult emergence

1800-2200

1800, 1900, 2000

1,2

Beech scale

eggs present

800

800

3

Beech scale

egg hatch; 1st crawlers

1250

1250

3

Birch leafminer

1st adult emergence

175-215

150, 200

1

Birch leafminer

Adults laying eggs

275-375

250, 300, 350

2

Birch leafminer

larvae and pupae

375-500

350, 400, 500

2

Birch leafminer

adults and egg laying; 2nd generation

600-700

600, 700

2

Black pineleaf scale

egg hatch

1068

1050

1

Bronze birch borer

adults; eggs; new grubs

400-600

400, 500, 600

1,2

Cankerworm

young caterpillars

100-200

100, 200

1

Cooley spruce gall adelgid

1st adults active - Spruce (control target)

25-120

50, 100

3

Cooley spruce gall adelgid

1st galls visible - Spruce

200-310

200, 250, 300

3

Cooley spruce gall adelgid

1st adults active - Douglas fir

90-180

100, 150

1

Cooley spruce gall adelgid

1st nymphs - Douglas fir (control target)

90-150

100, 150

3

Cooley spruce gall adelgid

2nd nymphs - Douglas fir (control target)

600-1000

600, 800, 1000

3

Cooley spruce gall adelgid

2nd adults active (control target)

1500-1600

1500, 1550, 1600

3

Cottony maple scale

adults & yellow crawlers on leaf veins

802-1200

800, 950, 1200

1,2

Dogwood borer

adults, eggs, caterpillars

350-850

350, 550, 850

1,2

Eastern pine shoot borer

1st adults active

75-200

50, 100, 200

3

Eastern spruce gall adelgid

1st adults active (control target)

25-100

50, 100

3

Eastern spruce gall adelgid

egg hatch, galls begin forming

250-310

250, 300

1,3

Eastern spruce gall adelgid

2nd adults active (control target)

1500-1600

1500, 1550, 1600

3

Eastern tent caterpillar

egg hatch

45-100

50, 100

1,2,3

Eastern tent caterpillar

tents apparent

150

150

3

Eastern tent caterpillar

pupation

450

450

3

Elm leaf beetle

1st generation

400-600

400, 500, 600

1

Elm leaf beetle

2nd generation

1300

1300

1

Elm leafminer

adult emergence

215-240

200, 250

1

Elm leafminer

1st generation larvae

365-530

350, 450, 550

2

Emerald ash borer

1st adult emergence

400-500

400, 500

3

Emerald ash borer

peak adult activity

1000-1200

1000, 1100, 1200

*

Euonymus scale

egg hatch - 1st generation

400-575

400, 500, 550

1

Euonymus scale

egg hatch - 2nd generation

1900-1050

*

1

European pine sawfly

1st larvae

100-195

100, 150, 200

1,3

European pine shoot moth

1st larvae

50-220

50, 100, 200

3

European pine shoot moth

egg hatch

900-1000

900, 950, 1000

3

European pine shoot moth

adults active

700-800

700, 750, 800

3

Fall webworm

egg hatch

850-900

850, 900

1

Fall webworm

caterpillars feeding

1200-1800

1200, 1500, 1800

2

Fall webworm

tents become apparent

1850-2050

1850, 1900, 2000

3

Fletcher scale

egg hatch

850-900

850, 900

1

Forest tent caterpillar

egg hatch

125-250

100, 150, 250

3

Forest tent caterpillar

pupation

450

450

3

Forest tent caterpillar

tachinid parasitic flies abundant

450-550

450, 500, 550

3

Forest tent caterpillar

sarcophagid parasitic flies abundant ("government fly" or "friendly fly")

750-850

750, 800, 850

*

Golden oak scale

Egg hatch

680-700

650, 700

1

Greater peach tree borer

adult emergence

575-710

550, 650, 700

1

Gypsy moth

egg hatch, 1st larvae

145-200

150, 200

1, 3

Gypsy moth

young caterpillars

450

450

1

Gypsy moth

pupation

900-1200

900, 1000, 1200

3

Honeylocust spider mite

egg hatch

220-250

200, 250

1

Honeylocust plant bug

egg hatch

220-250

200, 250

1,3

Introduced pine sawfly

1st larvae

400-600

400, 500, 600

3

Imported willow leaf beetle

Adults active

120-275

150, 250, 300

1

Jack pine budworm

young larvae feeding

300-350

300, 350

3

Jack pine budworm

large larvae feeding - defoliation apparent

650-700

650, 700

3

Jack pine sawfly

eggs; young larvae

100-200

100, 150, 200

1

Jack pine sawfly

larger larvae consuming needles

275-500

250, 350, 500

1

Japanese beetle

adults emerge and feed

950-2150

950, 1500, 2000

1,2

Juniper scale

egg hatch

550-700

550, 600, 700

1

Larch casebearer

egg hatch

120-150

100, 150

1

Large aspen tortrix

pupation

600-700

600, 700

3

Lesser peach tree borer

adult flight

350-375

300, 350, 400

1,2

Lilac borer

adult flight

325-350

300, 350

1,2

Magnolia scale

egg hatch

1925-1950

1900, 2000

1

Mimosa webworm

egg hatch - 1st generation

850-900

850, 900

1

Northern pine weevil

1st adults active

25-100

50, 100

3

Northern pine weevil

2nd adults active

1200-1400

1200, 1300, 1400

3

Oystershell scale

egg hatch

350-500

350, 400, 500

1

Pales weevil

1st adults active

25-100

50, 100

3

Pales weevil

2nd adults active

1200-1400

1200, 1300, 1400

3

Pine chafer (Anomela beetle)

1st adults active

450-600

450, 500, 600

3

Pine engraver (Ips bark beetle)

1st adults active

100-150

100, 150

100, 150

Pine needle midge

1st adults active

400-500

400, 450, 500

3

Pine needle scale

1st generation egg hatch

250-400

250, 300, 400

1,3,5,7

Pine needle scale

1st generation - hyaline stage (control target)

400-500

400, 500

5

Pine needle scale

2nd generation egg hatch

1250-1350

1250, 1300, 1350

1,3,5

Pine needle scale

2nd generation - hyaline stage (control target)

1500

1500

5

Pine root collar weevil

1st adults active

300-350

300, 350

3

Pine root collar weevil

2nd adults active

1200-1400

1200, 1300, 1400

3

Pine shoot beetle

new adults emerge; begin shoot-feeding

500-550

500, 550

6

Pine shoot beetle

optimal control window

450-500

450, 500

6

Pine tortoise scale

egg hatch begins; 1st crawlers

400-500

400, 450, 500

3

Pine tortoise scale

egg hatch ends; last of the crawlers

1000-1200

1000, 1100, 1200

3

Pine tube moth

adults; egg laying; caterpillars

90-250

100, 200, 250

1

Red-headed pine sawfly

1st larvae

400-600

400, 500, 600

3

Spruce budscale

egg hatch, 1st crawlers

700-1150

700, 900, 1150

1,3

Spruce budworm

1st larvae

200-300

200, 250, 300

3

Spruce needleminer

1st larvae

150-200

150, 200

3

Spruce spider mite

1st egg hatch

150-175

150, 200

1,3

Striped pine scale

egg hatch

750-800

750, 800

1

Turpentine beetle

parent beetles colonizing brood material

300-350

300, 350

3

Walnut caterpillar

egg hatch; caterpillars

1600-1700

1600, 1650, 1700

1

White pine weevil

1st adults active

25-220

50, 100, 200

3

White pine weevil

2nd adults active

1200-1400

1200, 1300, 1400

3

Zimmerman pine moth

1st larvae

25-100

50, 100

7

Zimmerman pine moth

adult flight

1700

1700

1

References
1 = Herms,D.A. Using degree days and plant phenology to predict pest activity. Chapter 11. Tactics and Tools for IPM.
2 = Sadof, C.S. 1994. Recommendations for managing insects and mites on shade trees and shrubs. Purdue University, Dept. of Entomology publication E-41. West Lafayette, IN. 117 p.
3 = MSU observations
4 = Fondren, K. and D.G. McCullough. 2002. Biology and management of balsam twig aphid. MSU Extension bulletin E-2813. 4 p.
5 = Fondren, K. and D.G. McCullough. 2002. Biology and management of pine needle scale. MSU Extension bulletin E-2812. 4 p.
6 = McCullough, D.G. and C.S. Sadof. 1998. Evaluation of an integrated management and compliance program for Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in pine Christmas tree fields. Forum Article, Journal of Economic Entomology 91:785-795.
7 = Eliason, E.A. and D.G. McCullough. 1997. Survival and fecundity of three insects reared on four varieties of Scotch pine Christmas trees. Journal of Economic Entomology 90:1598-1608.