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Latin Name: Cydia latiferreana
Common Name: Filbertworm
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
The moth is a native of North America.
Biology:
This distinctive moth is related to the Codling Moth and the Mexican Jumping Bean Borer and is found throughout much of North America, all of the U.S., and south into Mexico. The larvae feed on the seeds and acorns of various species of oaks, chestnut, pecan, and beech, and may even feed within the large galls called “oak apples” that are caused by wasp larvae. Ironically it is unclear whether it even feeds on filberts. They are a pest problem in commercially grown hazel nuts. The final larval instar overwinters, usually buried in vegetation on the soil such as grass or fallen leaves, and pupates in the spring. There may be several generations each year.
Identification:
The adult moth has a wingspan of about ½ inch. The hind wings are usually a dark gray, but the forewings vary in
Latin Name: Malacosoma disstria
Common Name: Forest Tent Caterpillar
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native species in North America and occurs from eastern Canada south into the northeast U.S. and west to the Pacific Coast. It is much more common in the eastern half of the continent.
Biology:
This species is closely related to the Eastern and Western tent caterpillars but differs in that the larvae do NOT create tents for themselves. They do, however, spin large mats of webbing on the trunk and branches of the host tree and use these to rest or to molt. They also differ in that they overwinter as masses of larvae on the trunk, rather than as the egg masses. When mature they pupate in a strong silk cocoon on the trunk, branches, or on nearby objects. They feed commonly on such trees as aspen, birch, and basswood and occasionally on oak. They do not seem to feed on maple very often. This species
Latin Name: Archips argyrospila
Common Name: Fruittree Leafroller
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
The moth is a native of North America.
Biology:
This widespread moth is found throughout the United States and southern Canada. It feeds as a larva on a great many host plants, getting its common name from its attacks on apples, pears, and stone fruits such as cherry and peach. But it also feeds on other crops such as alfalfa, grapes, blueberries, walnuts, and onions and on many ornamentals such as elm, cedar, birch, lilac, and others, and is a major pest of oaks in many areas. There is a single generation each year with eggs overwintering and hatching in early spring to coincide with bud break on the host plants. Larvae feed on the tender, early leaves, often causing complete defoliation of the trees. Late stage larvae often roll an edge of a leaf and hold it together as a tube using silk, and then
Latin Name: Uresiphita reversalis
Common Name: Genista Broom Moth
Other Names: Sophora worm
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native moth in North America and occurs from eastern Canada to Mexico and over most of the U.S.
Biology:
This common moth feeds as the larva on many species of plants in the pea family, including broom of many kinds, acacia, genista, Texas laurel, lupines, as well as crapemyrtle and honeysuckle. Ornamental broom shrubs can be defoliated under heavy infestations, but it also feeds on the many species of introduced and invasive broom such as Spanish broom and Common broom. They overwinter as either a pupa or a late stage larva.
Identification:
Adult moths are medium-sized with a wingspan of about 1 inch. Their forewings range from rusty orange to dark red-brown, with several rows of spots or solid lines running across the wing from top to bottom. The hind wing is usually
Latin Name: Lymantria dispar
Common Name: Gypsy Moth
Other Names: Asian gypsy moth
Pest Details
Origin:
This is native to Europe and Asia but was deliberately brought into the U.S. in the 1860’s as a possible source of silk, and managed to escape captivity to infest surrounding forests. It now is found in the Upper Midwest and Northeast states and southern Canada, and occasionally will be intercepted in California and Florida where eradication programs have successfully removed it.
Biology:
This legendary moth has killed millions of acres of forest since it became established, feeding on many deciduous trees as well as many conifers. Females deposit a mass of up to 1000 eggs on the bark of a tree as well as on many other stationary surfaces, including under road vehicles. The female is not able to fly and is restricted to crawling only. The eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring and larvae mature and
Latin Name: Lambdina sp.
Common Name: Hemlock Looper
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native insect in eastern North America.
Biology:
This genus of 9 North American species includes The Hemlock Looper, Lambdina fiscellaria, a potentially destructive species of the eastern half of the U.S. as well as in the Pacific Northwest and into Alberta and British Columbia. Severe outbreaks can result in defoliation of the trees, leading to their death within a couple of years. They feed on many conifers including hemlock, fir, spruce, cedar, and pines, as well as hardwood trees such as maple, elm, birch, and cherry. Female moths deposit eggs in late summer and the eggs overwinter, hatching in late spring. The larvae feed on many needles, often eating only a small part before moving to another needle, but causing the death of all needles fed upon.
Identification:
Mature larvae are about 1.25 inches long and vary in
Latin Name: Periploca nigra
Common Name: Juniper Twig Girdler
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native species in western North America.
Biology:
This moth can be a pest of ornamental juniper shrubs in the western U.S. The larva feeds under the thin bark of the plant, causing girdling and the death of that branch of the juniper. This rarely kills entire plants, but heavy infestations lead to stands of the juniper with many dead branches, reducing the overall aesthetic appearance of the plants.
Identification:
The symptoms on the plants are a good indication of the presence of this pest. The adult moth is rarely seen, but is small and a shiny brown-black color overall.
Characteristicts Important to Control:
Physically removing the dead branches will be an effective non-chemical control. A residual insecticide can be applied to the junipers to kill adult moths and the larva as they hatch from
Latin Name: Epiphyas postvittana
Common Name: Light Brown Apple Moth
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This species is native to the Australian region.
Biology:
This is another imported pest moth that was discovered in northern California in 2007, presumably brought in on infested plant materials from its native Australia or New Zealand. It has the potential to feed on and damage over 250 different species of plants, including a great many important row and tree crops. Because of this potential it is likely to be a quarantine pest when it is found in an agricultural area. There may be as many as 4 generations per year and there is no hibernation stage, the insects remaining slightly active as larvae during winter months, and thus likely confined to warmer regions of North America. Females deposit masses of eggs on upper leaf surfaces, with up to 96 overlapping eggs in a mass. Under normal temperatures the life cycle
Latin Name: Platynota stultana
Common Name: Omnivorous Leafroller
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
It is believed that this moth is native to Arizona, but was introduced into California from Mexico with infested produce. It has since spread throughout California and from there to Texas, along the Gulf Coast to Florida, and north along the Atlantic States.
Biology:
This is a major pest of greenhouses and may be transported most often with these plant products. But, it also feeds generally on conifers, citrus, walnut, alfalfa, cotton, lettuce, and other field crops. It is common in urban landscapes as well, feeding on many ornamental plants, and is a serious threat to vineyards. Females deposit eggs in masses averaging 97 eggs and the emerging larvae move upwards to feed within leaf buds or between leaves. Later stage larvae construct a feeding shelter by rolling the edge of a leaf inward and securing it with silk. Development
Latin Name: Argyrotaenia franciscana
Common Name: Orange Tortrix
Other Names: Apple skinworm
Pest Details
Origin:
This moth is likely native to the Pacific Coast of California, and it occurs commonly throughout California and north into southern British Columbia.
Biology:
This moth has the potential to be damaging to citrus and other fruits by feeding directly on developing fruit as well as on the stems, leading to premature drop of the fruit. The larvae will feed on a tremendous diversity of plants, including many native flowering plants, grapevines, apple, apricot, cherry, many landscape shrubs, most conifers, oaks, ferns, and a wide variety of roadside weeds. Over 200 diverse host plants are known. The female moth lays batches of around 200 eggs in masses on the food plants. Early instar larvae feed under a layer of silk and often skeletonize the leaves. Later instars create feeding chambers for themselves by rolling