Pheromone-polymorphism
Guides
Zeiraphera
larch bud moths, spruce bud moths
Zeiraphera is a genus of tortricid moths in the subfamily Olethreutinae, comprising approximately 35 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. The genus includes economically significant forest pests, notably the larch bud moth (Z. diniana) and spruce bud moth (Z. canadensis), which undergo periodic population outbreaks causing defoliation of coniferous hosts. Several species exhibit complex ecological traits including host race formation, pheromone polymorphism, and long-distance wind-mediated dispersal. The genus is characterized by larval feeding on conifer needles and a tendency toward cyclic population dynamics in certain species.