Choristoneura
Guides
Actia interrupta
Actia interrupta is a tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae) described by Curran in 1933. It is an endoparasitoid of lepidopteran larvae, particularly species in the genus Choristoneura including the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), a major forest pest in North America. The species undergoes 2-4 generations per year depending on geographic location, with its phenology closely tied to host larval availability. Research indicates it competes with other parasitoids such as the ichneumonid Tranosema rostrale within shared hosts, and may have a competitive advantage in multiparasitism situations. It has been studied as a biological control agent and can be reared through manual inoculation of host larvae with first instar maggots.
Choristoneura lambertiana
sugar pine tortrix, sugar pine tortrix moth
Choristoneura lambertiana, commonly known as the sugar pine tortrix, is a tortricid moth native to western North America. The species exhibits pronounced host-specific variation across its range, with three recognized subspecies each associated with different pine hosts: C. l. lambertiana on sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), C. l. ponderosana on ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa) and limber pine (P. flexilis), and C. l. subretiniana on lodgepole pine (P. contorta) and Jeffrey pine (P. jeffreyi). Populations have been documented as outbreak defoliators of lodgepole pine in Idaho and Montana during the mid-to-late 1960s.
Choristoneura orae
spruce budworm
Choristoneura orae is a small tortricid moth found in North America, commonly known as the spruce budworm. The species has a wingspan of approximately 24 mm. Larvae feed on Picea (spruce) species. It belongs to the genus Choristoneura, which includes several economically important forest pests.
Choristoneura spaldingiana
Choristoneura spaldingiana is a species of leafroller moth in the family Tortricidae. The genus Choristoneura includes several economically significant conifer-feeding species, most notably the spruce budworm (C. fumiferana), a major forest pest in North America. While specific details about C. spaldingiana remain sparse in the provided sources, congeners in this genus are known for caterpillars that feed on conifer foliage and display characteristic leaf-rolling behaviors for shelter.