Dioryctria abietivorella

(Grote, 1878)

fir coneworm, Evergreen Coneworm Moth

Dioryctria abietivorella, commonly known as the fir coneworm, is a of snout moth in the Pyralidae. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1878. Its larvae develop in conifer seed cones and branches, with documented performance varying by species and cone availability. White spruce appears to be the most suitable host based on development rate studies.

Dioryctria abietivorella by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Dioryctria abietivorella 01 by CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dioryctria abietivorella: //ˌdaɪ.əˈrɪk.tri.ə ˌæb.iˌɛt.ɪ.vɔːˈrɛl.ə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

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Habitat

Associated with coniferous forests, particularly in managed seed orchards of spruce and pine . Larvae develop within seed cones and on branches of trees.

Distribution

North America from southern Canada south to California in the west and North Carolina in the east. Documented distribution records include Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada, and Vermont in the United States.

Host Associations

Picea glauca - white spruce; most suitable based on larval development rates
Picea mariana - black spruce
Pinus banksiana - Jack pine; slower larval development compared to spruce
Pinus koraiensis - Korean pine; related Dioryctria are pests of this species in China

Human Relevance

Larvae are considered pests of conifer seed orchards, particularly affecting spruce and pine . The species has been studied for its impact on commercial seed production. A related , Baryscapus dioryctriae, has been investigated as a potential agent for Dioryctria species.

Similar Taxa

Dioryctria auranticellaAlso a coneworm with similar ; caterpillars feed in cones of Ponderosa pine
Dioryctria pryeriRelated coneworm that shares natural enemies and is a pine pest in China
Dioryctria abietellaClosely related coneworm with similar cone-feeding larval habits