Species Rhyacionia buoliana - European Pine Shoot Moth - Hodges#2867

2867

Rhyacionia buoliana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

Tortrix buoliana Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775 (1)

Evetria buoliana

Named in honor of entomologist Baron Buol of Vienna, who studied its "injurious work during the latter part of the eighteenth century." (2)

Caterpillar up to 15 mm.

Forewing length 8-11 mm. (3)

Introduced to the northeast United States in the early 1900's, spread to the Pacific Northwest where its known from southern British Columbia to coastal Oregon. (3) It also occurs through much of Europe and in a small area in South America. (4)

Type locality: Vicinity of Vienna, Austria. (4)

Pine forests.

One generation per year, overwinters as a larva. (3)

Larvae feed on pine (Pinus). (5), (3)

The first 2 caterpillar instars feed on the needles, then bore into the shoot to hibernate for the winter.

Adults lays eggs singly or in group of 2-10 at the base of buds, on needle fascicles and twig tips. Newly-hatched larvae spin resin coated, tentlike webs between needle sheaths and the stems of current year's growth; then they bore thru the sheaths and mind the bases of the needles. In mid-summer the larvae move to buds and construct new resin coated webs. These glisten brightly then solidify into yellowish-white masses. Pupation occurs inside the burrow or tent.(6)

Overwinter as larvae in a feeding tunnel in the bud.(6)

One generation per year.(6)

Introduced from Europe more than a hundred years ago.

Orgilus obscurator was imported in the 1930s as a bio control for this moth. Control ranges from 0-50% in USA; Canada has had better luck. This ichneumon wasp overwinters within the hibernating host.(6)

Pimpla turionellae, a European ichneumon wasp, was imported as a control in the 1930s. It has established in southern Ontario.(6)

Temeluchia interruptor, an ichneumon wasp, was imported in 1930s as a bio control agent. It became established in CT, NJ, and NY in 1937 but 10 years later it has almost disappeared.(6)

Three Eurytomidae wasps were imported as bio control: Eurytoma verticillata, Eurytoma pini, Eurytoma tylodermatis.(6)

A Chalcididae, Haltichella xanticles uses this moth as a host.(6)

Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775. Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend: 128. (1)

Moth Photographers Group

Canadian Forest Service

Ignaz Schiffermüller (1727-1806)