Conifer-pest
Guides
Ips tridens
Western Engraver
Ips tridens is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Scolytinae, first described by Wood in 1982. It is commonly known as the Western Engraver. The species is distributed across northern North America, with records from Alberta, British Columbia, the Northern Territories, and Yukon Territory in Canada. Like other Ips species, it is associated with coniferous trees and belongs to a genus known for creating distinctive gallery patterns beneath bark.
Korscheltellus
conifer swift (for K. gracilis), common swift (for K. lupulina)
Korscheltellus is a genus of ghost moths (Hepialidae) containing two widespread species. Korscheltellus lupulina, the common swift, occurs across Europe. Korscheltellus gracilis, the conifer swift, ranges through Canada and the eastern United States. The genus was established by Börner in 1920 and has been subject to taxonomic revision, including the reinstatement of Korscheltellus castillanus as a distinct species.
Korscheltellus gracilis
Conifer Swift Moth
Korscheltellus gracilis, the Conifer Swift Moth, is a hepialid moth native to eastern and central North America. Adults are active at dusk and exhibit a primitive mating system where males form aerial lek swarms to attract females. Larvae are root-feeders primarily associated with coniferous trees, particularly balsam fir and red spruce, though they can survive on deciduous hosts. The species is considered a forest pest due to larval damage to tree roots and associated pathogen entry points.
Lachninae
Giant Aphids
Lachninae is a subfamily of aphids (Aphididae) notable for containing some of the largest-bodied aphid species, commonly referred to as 'giant aphids.' Members are distinguished by greatly reduced or vestigial cornicles compared to other aphids. The subfamily exhibits a unique dual symbiotic system involving Buchnera and co-obligate secondary endosymbionts, primarily Serratia symbiotica, which compensates for riboflavin biosynthetic deficiencies in the primary symbiont. This group has been historically treated as a separate family (Lachnidae) by some authors. The subfamily includes economically significant species associated with coniferous and broadleaf trees.
Lambdina
Lambdina is a genus of geometrid moths comprising approximately ten described species distributed in North America. Several species are significant forest defoliators, particularly the hemlock looper (L. fiscellaria) and its subspecies, which cause economically damaging outbreaks in coniferous forests. The genus exhibits typical geometrid morphology with larvae commonly referred to as loopers due to their characteristic looping gait. Species within Lambdina can be distinguished by host associations, flight periods, and overwintering stages.
Leptoglossus
leaf-footed bugs
Leptoglossus is a genus of true bugs in the leaf-footed bug family Coreidae, tribe Anisoscelini. Species are characterized by leaflike dilations of the hind tibia, a diagnostic trait of the genus. The genus is distributed throughout the Americas, with some introduced populations in Europe and Asia. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, notably L. occidentalis, which has become invasive in multiple continents.
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nchanmoss-bugarchaeorrhynchanfulgoromorphancicadomorphanmembracoidtreehopperleafhopperplanthopperpsyllidjumping-plant-lousewhiteflyaleyrodidscale-insectcoccoidmealybugaphidadelgidphylloxeransternorrhynchanthysanopteranthripspsocopteranbarklousebooklousephthirapteranlousesucking-lousechewing-lousemallophagananoplurandermapteranearwigblattodeancockroachtermiteisopteranmantodeanmantidphasmidstick-insectleaf-insectorthopterangrasshopperlocustkatydidcricketmole-cricketpygmy-mole-cricketcamel-cricketcave-cricketwetaensiferancaeliferangryllotalpidmyrmecophilidtettigoniidgryllidacrididpamphagidpneumoridlentulidtristirideumastacidproscopiidtridactylidtetrigidgrouse-locustpygmy-grasshopperplecopteranstoneflyembiopteranwebspinnerzorapteranangel-insectdictyopteranMargaiostus grandicollis
Fivespined engraver beetle
Margaiostus grandicollis is a bark beetle species historically known as the fivespined engraver. The species has been reclassified from the genus Ips to Margaiostus within the family Elateridae, though it was long treated as a member of Curculionidae (Scolytinae). It attacks coniferous trees, particularly pines, and has been documented in eastern North America. The species is known for its gallery-building behavior beneath bark and its association with stressed or dying trees.
Marmara fasciella
White Pine Barkminer Moth
Marmara fasciella, commonly known as the white pine barkminer moth, is a microlepidopteran species in the family Gracillariidae. It is distributed in eastern North America, with records from Québec, Canada, and several northeastern and mid-Atlantic U.S. states. The species is associated with coniferous and broadleaf trees, with larvae feeding internally on host plants.
Megastigmus spermotrophus
Douglas Fir Seed Chalcidoid Wasp, Douglas-fir Seed Chalcid
Megastigmus spermotrophus is a seed-parasitic chalcid wasp native to western North America that has become invasive in Europe and other regions. It specializes in attacking seeds of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), causing significant economic losses in seed orchards and natural forests. The species exhibits complex life history traits including facultative larval diapause lasting up to three years, which enables population persistence despite fluctuating cone crops. Females oviposit through cone scales into developing seeds, and the species shows preferences for larger cones with strongly arched exteriors and cone tips. Genetic polymorphism in diapause expression allows adaptation to varying environmental conditions.
Melanophila acuminata
black fire beetle, fire bug
Melanophila acuminata is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, renowned for its exceptional ability to detect and locate forest fires from considerable distances. Adults possess specialized infrared radiation sensors on the thorax that detect heat, enabling them to swarm to freshly burned conifer trees for reproduction. The species has a broad Holarctic distribution and exhibits strong flight capabilities, with adults documented flying more than 50 miles to reach fire sites. Larvae develop in the phloem of fire-damaged conifers, taking several years to mature before emerging through D-shaped exit holes.
Mindarinae
Mindarinae is a small subfamily of aphids within the family Aphididae, established by Tullgren in 1909. The subfamily is characterized by distinctive morphological features that separate it from other aphid subfamilies. It includes the genus Mindarus, which contains species associated with coniferous trees.
Mindarus
balsam twig aphid
Mindarus is a genus of conifer-feeding aphids in the family Mindaridae, commonly known as balsam twig aphids. Species in this genus are specialized phloem feeders on fir trees (Abies spp.), where they cause needle discoloration, shoot deformation, and reduced aesthetic quality. Several species are significant economic pests in Christmas tree plantations, particularly M. abietinus on balsam fir and M. pinicola on Fraser fir. The genus exhibits a holocyclic life cycle with overwintering eggs, spring fundatrices, and summer parthenogenetic generations.
Neodiprion abietis
balsam fir sawfly
Neodiprion abietis, the balsam fir sawfly, is a conifer-feeding sawfly native to North America. Larvae are gregarious defoliators that feed preferentially on balsam fir (Abies balsamea) needles, with outbreaks capable of causing significant tree mortality in eastern Canadian forests. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in development, with females typically undergoing six instars over 35 days and males five instars over 30 days. Population dynamics are strongly regulated by a host-specific nucleopolyhedrovirus (NeabNPV), which has been developed as a registered biological insecticide (Abietiv™) for outbreak management.
Neodiprion edulicolus
Pinyon Sawfly, Pinyon Pine Sawfly
Neodiprion edulicolus, the pinyon pine sawfly, is a conifer-feeding sawfly endemic to the Intermountain Region of western North America. The species periodically undergoes population outbreaks causing extensive defoliation of singleleaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla), with over 100,000 acres affected during documented events in 1965-1966 in eastern Nevada. Unlike bark beetles and fungi that typically dominate conifer health concerns, this folivore can render host trees commercially unfit for Christmas tree sales. Outbreaks have historically been short-lived, with populations declining due to climatic factors and parasitoid pressure.
Neodiprion pinetum
White Pine Sawfly
Neodiprion pinetum is a conifer-feeding sawfly native to eastern North America. Adults are broad-bodied, stingless wasps with females bearing a saw-like ovipositor used to insert eggs into pine needles. Larvae are creamy-yellow with black heads and four longitudinal rows of black spots, resembling caterpillars but possessing more prolegs. The species is frequently monophagous on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), though larvae have been documented on several other pine species. Localized outbreaks occur regularly and can kill small stands of host trees, though natural enemies including egg and larval parasitoids typically provide substantial biological control.
Neodiprion pratti
Virginia pine sawfly, jack pine sawfly
Neodiprion pratti is a conifer sawfly native to North America with documented populations in Canada and the eastern United States. The species exhibits complex host-associated population structure, with distinct populations adapted to specific pine hosts including Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), sand pine (Pinus clausa), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). Populations show significant variation in life history, with northern forms typically univoltine and a distinctive West Florida population exhibiting winter-active phenology with adults emerging in October-November.
Neodiprion pratti pratti
Virginia pine sawfly
Neodiprion pratti pratti, the Virginia pine sawfly, is a conifer-feeding sawfly native to eastern North America. It is a univoltine species with larvae that feed gregariously on pine needles, particularly Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) and pitch pine (Pinus rigida). The subspecies exhibits a distinctive winter-active life history in some populations, with adults emerging in late autumn and larvae feeding during the cool season. This phenology allows escape from egg parasitoids but exposes small larvae to periodic mortality from freezing events and ice storms.
Neodiprion virginianus
Neodiprion virginianus is a conifer sawfly (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) that feeds on jack pine (Pinus banksiana). It is part of a species complex with variable taxonomy. The species has been documented causing localized defoliation outbreaks in northeastern North America, with populations capable of sudden collapse. Larvae are gregarious folivores that consume pine needles.
Nepytia janetae
Janeta's looper moth
Nepytia janetae is a geometrid moth in the family Geometridae native to southwestern United States mountain ranges. Prior to 1996, it was an inconspicuous species with little ecological impact. Since 1996, four major outbreaks have caused extensive defoliation of conifer forests across Arizona and New Mexico, killing tens of thousands of acres of trees. The species exhibits an unusual winter-feeding larval stage, active when minimum temperatures approach or drop below 0°F. Outbreak termination occurs primarily through parasitism, viral infection, larval starvation, and occasionally heavy rain during egg deposition.
Nepytia phantasmaria
phantom hemlock looper
Nepytia phantasmaria is a geometrid moth native to North America, described by Herman Strecker in 1899. It is commonly known as the phantom hemlock looper. The species is part of the looper moth group, with larvae that are defoliators of conifer foliage. Its activity patterns have been studied in relation to environmental conditions, showing associations with sunset and sunrise periods.
Orthotomicus caelatus
Carving Bark Beetle
Orthotomicus caelatus is a bark beetle species in the family Curculionidae, described by Wood and Bright in 1992. Like other members of the genus Orthotomicus, it is a wood-boring beetle associated with coniferous trees. The species has been documented in North America and Africa, though detailed ecological studies specific to this species remain limited. Its common name, "Carving Bark Beetle," reflects its feeding behavior beneath tree bark.
Oxydia
Oxydia is a genus of geometrid moths in the family Geometridae, first described by Achille Guenée in 1857. Species in this genus are distributed across the Americas, with several species recognized as forest pests of economic importance. The genus includes defoliator species that attack conifers, eucalyptus, and other woody plants. Larvae are commonly known as loopers or measuring worms due to their characteristic looping gait.
Pachylobius
pine weevils
Pachylobius is a genus of pine weevils in the family Curculionidae, established by LeConte in 1876. The genus contains at least two described species: Pachylobius picivorus (pitch-eating weevil) and Pachylobius stupidus. Species in this genus are associated with coniferous hosts and have been documented as pests of pine regeneration in forest ecosystems.
Panthea
Panthea is a genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Pantheinae. The genus name derives from Greek and Persian, meaning 'of all gods.' Species within Panthea are primarily distributed in North America, with some Neotropical representatives including recently described species from Honduras and the Dominican Republic. The genus includes notable species such as Panthea furcilla (eastern panthea or tufted white pine caterpillar) and Panthea acronyctoides (black zigzag or tufted spruce caterpillar), whose larvae feed on conifer hosts.
Paradiplosis
balsam gall midge (for P. tumifex)
Paradiplosis is a genus of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) containing at least four described species. The genus is best known for P. tumifex, the balsam gall midge, which induces characteristic needle galls on balsam fir and is a significant pest in Christmas tree plantations. Other species include P. abietispectinatae, P. manii, and P. obesa. Species in this genus are associated with coniferous hosts and exhibit specialized gall-inducing behaviors.
Paralobesia palliolana
Paralobesia palliolana is a tortricid moth whose larvae were discovered injuring shoot tips on larch (Larix spp.) in Michigan. Originally described as Polychrosis palliolana by McDunnough in 1938 from flight-captured specimens without confirmed hosts, the species was later associated with larch damage through field observations. It belongs to the Olethreutinae subfamily, a group of tortricid moths that includes many species with concealed feeding habits.
Phaenops fulvoguttata
Hemlock Borer
Phaenops fulvoguttata, commonly known as the hemlock borer, is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is native to North America and has been recorded across Canada from British Columbia to Labrador, including Alberta and Manitoba. The species is associated with coniferous trees, particularly hemlock (Tsuga spp.), and belongs to a genus of jewel beetles that develop in the wood of pines and related conifers.
Phloeosinini
Phloeosinini is a tribe of bark beetles within the subfamily Scolytinae, comprising at least 16 genera including the economically significant genus Phloeosinus. Members are wood-boring beetles primarily associated with conifer hosts across five families: Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, and Taxaceae. The tribe includes species with invasive potential that are readily transported internationally via wood products and packaging materials.
Pineus pinifoliae
Pine Leaf Adelgid, Pine Leaf Aphid, Pine Leaf Chermid
Pineus pinifoliae is a small, phloem-feeding insect in the family Adelgidae, commonly known as the pine leaf adelgid or pine leaf aphid. It has a complex life cycle involving alternation between spruce (Picea) as the primary host, where it forms galls on new shoots, and white pine (Pinus strobus) as the secondary host. The species produces multiple generations annually, with distinct morphological forms including winged migrants that transfer between hosts. Heavy infestations on white pine cause characteristic damage patterns including needle stunting, reduced radial growth, and branch mortality concentrated in the lower and mid-crown.
Pinyonia edulicola
Pinyon Spindle Gall Midge, Pinyon Spindlegall Midge
A tiny gall-forming midge in the family Cecidomyiidae that induces spindle-shaped galls on developing pinyon pine needles. Adult emergence occurs in mid-June to mid-July. Heavy infestations cause premature needle drop and substantial defoliation, making it a pest of concern in urban landscapes of Colorado.
Pissodes
Pine Weevils
Pissodes is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae containing at least 140 described species. These insects are specialized inhabitants of coniferous forests, with their distribution across the Northern Hemisphere closely tracking that of Pinaceae host trees. Several species, including Pissodes strobi, P. nemorensis, and P. terminalis, are recognized as significant forest pests due to the damage they inflict on economically important trees. The genus was first described by Ernst Friedrich Germar in 1817.
Pissodes striatulus
Balsam Bark Weevil
Pissodes striatulus, known as the balsam bark weevil, is a species of true weevil in the family Curculionidae. It occurs in North America, with records from multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. The species is associated with coniferous hosts, particularly balsam fir (Abies balsamea), though specific ecological details remain limited in published sources.
Pityogenes
bark beetles
Pityogenes is a genus of bark beetles in the family Curculionidae, comprising over 30 described species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Species in this genus are primarily associated with coniferous trees, with P. chalcographus being the most extensively studied due to its economic significance as a pest of Norway spruce. The genus exhibits typical scolytine characteristics including aggregation pheromone communication and specialized host-finding behaviors. Some species demonstrate notable geographic variation in morphology and genetics, suggesting population differentiation across their ranges.
Pityogenes carinulatus
Pityogenes carinulatus is a small bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, described by Wood & Bright in 1992. It belongs to the subfamily Scolytinae (true bark and ambrosia beetles), a group of economically significant forest pests. The species has been recorded in western North America including British Columbia, Canada, and parts of Middle America. Like other members of the genus Pityogenes, it is associated with coniferous trees.
Pityophthorus virilis
Pityophthorus virilis is a species of bark beetle in the weevil family Curculionidae, first described by Blackman in 1928. The genus Pityophthorus comprises small ambrosia beetles that primarily infest coniferous trees, though species-level biology for P. virilis remains poorly documented. Most congeneric species are associated with Pinus species and other conifers.
Pleroneura
Pleroneura is a genus of sawflies in the family Xyelidae whose larvae are bud miners and shoot borers of fir (Abies) and spruce (Picea) species. Larvae feed within developing buds and shoots of conifers, with multiple species sometimes co-occurring on the same host tree. The genus occurs primarily in North America and Asia, with documented species attacking white fir in California, balsam fir in eastern North America, and Sakhalin spruce in Japan. Species-level taxonomy remains problematic, with recognition not currently based on fundamental characters.
Pseudohylesinus
Pseudohylesinus is a genus of crenulate bark beetles (family Curculionidae) comprising at least 20 described species. Members are small, slender beetles (approximately 2.8 mm length) associated with coniferous trees in western North America. The genus includes economically notable species such as the Douglas-fir hylesinus (P. nebulosus), which attacks Douglas-fir and related hosts. Species in this genus exhibit distinctive reproductive behaviors including acoustic signaling and primary attraction to host volatiles rather than pheromone-mediated aggregation.
Rhyacionia aktita
Rhyacionia aktita is a species of tortricid moth described by Miller in 1978. It belongs to the genus Rhyacionia, a group commonly known as pine tip moths due to the larval habit of feeding on conifer shoot tips. The species is part of the Olethreutinae subfamily within Tortricidae. Published records indicate limited observational data, with 14 documented observations on iNaturalist.
Rhyacionia busckana
Red Pine Tip Moth
Rhyacionia busckana is a small tortricid moth commonly known as the Red Pine Tip Moth. It is a conifer specialist whose larvae feed on pine species, causing damage to shoot tips. The species occurs in North America and is of economic concern in forestry contexts.
Rhyacionia granti
Jack Pine Shoot Borer
Rhyacionia granti is a species of tortricid moth in the family Tortricidae, described by Miller in 1985. It belongs to the genus Rhyacionia, a group commonly known as shoot borers or tip moths that are associated with coniferous trees. The species is known by the common name Jack Pine Shoot Borer, indicating its association with jack pine (Pinus banksiana). As a member of the Olethreutinae subfamily and Eucosmini tribe, it shares characteristics with other conifer-feeding tortricids in the genus.
Semanotus
Semanotus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) described by Étienne Mulsant in 1839. Species within this genus are primarily wood-boring pests of coniferous trees, with documented associations including juniper, fir, cedar, cryptomeria, and cypress. Several species cause significant economic damage to timber and ornamental plantings. The genus has a broad distribution spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, with at least 19 recognized species.
Semanotus amethystinus
Amethyst Cedar Borer
Semanotus amethystinus is a longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, commonly known as the Amethyst Cedar Borer. The species is native to western North America and has been introduced to Hawaii. Adults are typically found on or near their coniferous host trees, particularly junipers and cedars. Larvae develop as wood-borers in the trunks and larger limbs of living or stressed trees, creating galleries packed with frass.
Stephanopachys substriatus
powder-post beetle, Pine Powderpost Beetle
Stephanopachys substriatus is a species of horned powder-post beetle in the family Bostrichidae. It has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species is commonly known as the powder-post beetle or Pine Powderpost Beetle, reflecting its association with coniferous wood degradation.
Taniva albolineana
Spruce Needleminer Moth
Taniva albolineana is a monotypic tortricid moth endemic to North America, commonly known as the spruce needleminer moth. The species is specialized on spruce (Picea spp.) as its host plant, with larvae mining within needles. It is the sole member of the genus Taniva. The moth is primarily documented from the Canadian prairie provinces and adjacent regions.
Tramini
Tramini is a tribe of aphids within the family Aphididae, subfamily Lachninae. Members are medium to large aphids characterized by robust bodies, long antennae, and siphunculi that are either absent or reduced to small pores. The tribe includes conifer-feeding aphids, with many species associated with pine (Pinus) hosts.
Urocerus
horntail, woodwasp
Urocerus is a genus of horntails (woodwasps) in the family Siricidae containing approximately seven to eight described species. These large, non-venomous wasps are characterized by their elongated, cylindrical bodies and prominent cornus (horn-like spine) at the tip of the abdomen. Females possess a long, drill-like ovipositor used to insert eggs into dead, dying, or weakened trees. Species in this genus are obligate mutualists with wood-decaying fungi, which they vector and cultivate for larval nutrition. Several species have broad distributions across the Northern Hemisphere, with some introduced outside their native ranges.
Xeris spectrum
wood wasp, horntail
Xeris spectrum is a large horntail or wood wasp in the family Siricidae, notable within its family for lacking the fungal symbionts that other siricid wasps use to aid larval development in wood. Females possess a powerful ovipositor used to drill into coniferous trees and deposit eggs beneath the bark. The species is widespread across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, where it develops in the wood of fir, spruce, pine, and larch. Development from egg to adult takes several years, with larvae emerging in two distinct cohorts—some in summer alongside other wood wasps, others the following spring. The species is considered a timber pest due to larval tunneling that degrades wood quality.
Xestia badicollis
Northern Variable Dart, Northern Conifer Dart, White Pine Cutworm
A noctuid moth native to eastern North America. Adults fly from July to October with one generation per year. The larval stage, known as the white pine cutworm, feeds primarily on eastern white pine and occasionally other conifers. The species belongs to the elimata species group, within which genetic and morphological boundaries remain unresolved.
Zeiraphera hesperiana
Douglas-fir Bud Moth
Zeiraphera hesperiana is a North American tortricid moth species described in 1967. It belongs to the bud moth genus Zeiraphera, which includes several economically significant forest pests. The species is associated with coniferous hosts, particularly Douglas-fir.