Choristoneura pinus

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Subphylum	Hexapoda
Class	Insecta
Subclass	Pterygota
Infraclass	Neoptera
Superorder	Holometabola
Order	Lepidoptera
Superfamily	Tortricoidea
Family	Tortricidae
Subfamily	Tortricinae
Tribe	Archipini
Genus	Choristoneura
Species	Choristoneura pinus

Scientific Name

Choristoneura pinus pinus

Common Name

jack pine budworm

Outbreaks of this budworm in the Lake States and adjacent Canada occur in stands predominated by jack pine, although Scots, red, and white pines may also be attacked. Defoliation by the jack pine budworm reduces tree growth, retards regeneration, and causes tree mortality. Trees of all sizes are attacked, but trees with abundant male flowers are preferred. Symptoms are brown or red needles loosely webbed onto shoots.

Jack pine budworms overwinter as second-instar larvae in hibernacula in bark crevices of branches and twigs. Spring activity begins about the time staminate flowers, or cones, appear. Budworms feed at first on the flower cones and new needles, but later consume all the foliage. Larvae mature by the end of June, pupate, and hatch into adults early in July. Mature larvae are reddish brown with small cream-colored spots along the back. Eggs are laid in masses on the needles, and usually hatch by early August. There is one generation per year.

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References

• USDA Forest Service. 1979. A guide to common insects and diseases of forest trees in the northeastern United States. Northeast. Area State Priv. For., For. Insect and Disease Management., Broomall, PA. p. 123, illus.