Pine beauty moth
From Bugwoodwiki
From: Kolk A., Starzyk J. R., 1996: The Atlas of Forest Insect Pests (Atlas skodliwych owadów lesnych) - Multico Warszawa, 705 pages. Original publication in Polish. English translation provided by Dr. Lidia Sukovata and others under agreement with The Polish Forest Research Institute.
Occurrence:
It has a widespread distribution throughout Europe. It also occurs in Asia and Japan. Panolis flammea has not crossed the northern line of the Scots pine distribution in the northern Europe.
Host Plants:
In Poland it usually occurs in 20-80 year old pure Scots pine stands growing in poor site conditions in the regions of an annual precipitation up to 700 mm. Sporadically it may be observed on the Norway spruce.
Morphology:
The adult moth has a hairy head and body. A wingspan is about 30-35 mm. The forewings are long and narrow, rusty brown with two characteristic white spots. The underwings are brown. Eggs are round shaped of about 0.9 mm in diameter. Their upper surface is slightly ribbed. The caterpillar is yellow green with 16 legs and a light-brown head. There are 3-5 white strips on a dorsal part of the body and orange-yellow lines on its sides. The first instar caterpillars move like geometrids. They molt four times. The third instar caterpillar is up to 18 mm long. Pupae are long, dark-brown, glace with two sharp spines.
Biology:
Adults emerge in early April through mid May. In stands with low vegetation cover the emergence may begin in March. Swarming starts after a sunset and lasts for about an hour. Adults feed on a honey dew extracted by aphids and mate in tree crowns. Females lay eggs on needles in a line of 2-25 eggs. A female lays 100 -210 eggs. Caterpillars hatch 9 days up to a month later with a peak in mid May. Newly hatched caterpillars climb to the upper part of the crown, where they feed on buds, needles and bark of young shoots. Older instars feed on old needles. In end June, caterpillars pupate in forest litter or upper soil layer (up to 3 cm), however in wet and cool years they can feed until August. Pupae overwinter.
Damage:
Feeding of pine beauty moth caterpillars is the most harmful when they feed on young buds. One caterpillar consumes about 200 pine needles during its life. Outbreaks usually last two - three years.
Preventive measures:
The complex of natural enemies of the pine beauty moth is large: many species of parasitoids, entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria, mammals, birds. Various plant species should be planted in woodlands preferred by the pine beauty moth to enhance the efficacy of parasitoids. Besides, the favorable conditions for the birds should be created. Hunting of wild pigs should be forbidden during outbreak years.
Forecasting:
The method of autumnal searches of pupae in the forest litter is used in different countries of Europe. The pheromone of the pine beauty moth is used basically for monitoring.
Control measures:
Various biological and chemical insecticides can be used to control the pine beauty moth.
 Photo by Robert Dzwonkowski, , Bugwood.org |  Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |
 Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |  Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |
 Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |  Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |
 Photo by Stanislaw Kinelski, , Bugwood.org |
