Which insect sucks conifer seeds while standing on the cone and lays eggs on foliage?

• A. Cone bug
• B. Douglas fir seed chalcid
• C. Gypsy moth
• D. Douglas fir cone moth

Answer: (A)

This question is about matching a pest’s feeding behavior and egg-laying site to its species. The cone bug fits the description because it uses its sucking mouthparts to extract seeds directly from the cone while perched on the cone itself, and it lays its eggs on foliage away from the cone. In contrast, the Douglas fir seed chalcid lays eggs inside developing seeds inside the cone (not on foliage), the gypsy moth mainly defoliates leaves, and the Douglas fir cone moth rears larvae inside cones rather than feeding on cone seeds from the surface. So the cone bug is the one that matches both feeding on cone seeds and laying eggs on foliage.