• Stillwell, M.A.
  Forest Entomology and Pathology Branch, Dept. of Forestry, Ottawa
  
• Kelly, D.J.
  Forest Entomology and Pathology Branch, Fredricton
  

The spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)) has caused extensive mortality of balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) in eastern Canada during recent years. A major outbreak in the Lake Nipigon area of northern Ontario ended in 1948 (Belyea, 1952) and a later outbreak in northern New Brunswick collapsed in 1959 (Greenbank, 1963). Information on the rate of fungous deterioration in budworm-killed balsam fir was available for northern Ontario (Basham, 1951) but its applicability to New Brunswick conditions was questionable. Accordingly, studies were begun in 1955 to determine the nature and rate of fungous deterioration in balsam fir killed by spruce budworm defoliation in northwestern New Brunswick.