Abstract
Populations of barrens buck moth (Hemileuca maia) (Drury) have been declining in the Albany Pine Bush for more than 25 years. This system, like many early successional habitats in the Northeast, has suffered under the influence of fire suppression and fragmentation. This study evaluated the effect of prescribed fire on buck moth parasitoids, predators, and host plant quality. In 2006, larvae mortality increased in unburned plots from parasitism by Compsilura concinnata (Meigen) and in burned plots from Leschenaultia fulvipes (Bigot). In 2007, larvae mortality from L. fulvipes was marginally increased in burned plots and Hyposoter fugitivus (Say) in unburned plots. All other parasitoid mortality did not differ among burn intervals. Pupal predation did not differ among burn intervals in either 2006 or 2007. Relative growth rates increased for caterpillars reared on foliage from one year-post-burn plots in 2006, but did not differ among burn intervals or along an altitudinal gradient in 2007.