Aspen Carpenterworm
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Hosts
Poplar. Cottonwoods and poplars listed as general hosts; quaking aspen mentioned as a specific hosts; quaking aspen mentioned as a specific host (Doane and others 1936, Furniss and Carolin 1977).
Range
Known to occur in Nevada, Colorado, California, and in the northern Rocky Mountains, but reportedly found from coast to coast and in Ontario and British Columbia in southern Canada (Doane and others 1936, Dyar 1937, Essig 1929, Forbes 1923, Furniss and Carolin 1977, Neumoegen and Dyar 1894).
Description
Adult
Rather stoutbodied, whitish ash gray moth with yellowish gray and black markings (Barnes and McDunnough 1911, Neumoegen and Dyar 1894). Forewing very light gray with an irregular network of black reticulations heavier and more distinct in wing center. Wingspan 60 to 80 mm. Antennae and labial palpi black, and head gray with yellowish gray collar. Thorax gray with incomplete dark collar anteriorly and two transverse black marks posteriorly. Gray abdomen. Females distinguishable from males by their slightly heavier bodies, lighter gray color, less distinct reticulation on hindwings, and threadlike antennae. Male antennae feathery.
Larva
Cream colored, shiny, and hairless with dark brown head and thoracic shield, and 35 to 40 mm long (Furniss and Carolin 1977).
Biology
Adults emerge in July and deposit their eggs in bark crevices of host trees. Young larvae tunnel under the bark initially, then produce extensive galleries in the wood. Little is known of the life history; hosts and geographical range are similar to those of A. centerensis, and habits and development are probably similar also.
Injury and Damage
Frass can be found in bark crevices of actively infested trees. Entrance holes and bark scars on the trunk provide evidence of infestation. Galleries with blackened walls up to 13 mm in diameter may extend deep into the wood. Heavily infested boles may be so riddled with tunnels that they break (Furniss and Carolin 1977). Populations are localized and widely scattered, which minimizes the overall importance.
Control
Nothing is known of the natural enemies or other controls.
References
Solomon, J.D. 1995. Guide to insect borers of North American broadleaf trees and shrubs. Argic. Handbk. 706. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 735 p.
