View source for Archive:Caterpillars/Zeiraphera unfortunana

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Purple-striped Shootworm (''Zeiraphera unfortunana'')}}
<btaxobox imgnum=1178126/>
''Maier, C.T.; Lemmon, C.R.; Fengler, J.M.; Schweitzer, D.F.; Reardon, R.C.; Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. Morgantown, WV. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. FHTET-2004-01. March 2004. 151 p.'' 
==Description==
Plump body with contrasting broad areas of purplish brown and light brown. Orange head; brownish prothoracic shield with darkest brown on posterior half and with light anterior margin; dark brown thoracic legs. Purplish brown dorsum and broad spiracular stripe, both contrasting with broad, light brown subdorsal stripe; margin of dorsum with row of light brown spots; apparent indentations in subdorsal stripe. Supraspiracular spots ringed in brown; dark brown spiracles. Up to 10 mm.

==Food==
White spruce, especially in exposed areas; uncommonly other spruces and balsam fir.

==Life Cycle==
One generation. Egg overwinters near base of shoot with new growth. Mature caterpillar present from May to July.

==Comments==
The feeding habits of this species and the spruce bud moth, Zeiraphera canadensis, are similar. The purple-striped shootworm also can be a pest in plantations of white spruce.