Picea
Guides
Adelges abietis
Pineapple-gall Adelgid, Eastern Spruce Gall Adelgid, Spruce Gall Aphid
Adelges abietis, commonly known as the pineapple-gall adelgid or eastern spruce gall adelgid, is a conifer-feeding insect that induces distinctive pineapple-shaped pseudocone galls on spruce shoots. The species is one of the most common adelgids in its genus and has been documented across Europe and North America. Unlike the closely related hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), A. abietis is not considered a major destructive pest, though its gall formation causes shoot deformation. The species exhibits strongly aggregated spatial distributions within and among host trees.
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.
Cinara costata
Mealy Spruce Aphid
Cinara costata is a large aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the Mealy Spruce Aphid. It feeds on conifers, particularly spruce (Picea spp.), and is native to Europe where it has been documented in Great Britain, Denmark, Belgium, and France. Like other Cinara species, it produces honeydew that attracts ants and wasps. The species was first described by Zetterstedt in 1828 from specimens collected in Scandinavia.
Cinara pilicornis
spruce shoot aphid, brown spruce shoot aphid
Cinara pilicornis is a large aphid species specialized on spruce trees, particularly Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Native to Europe, it has been introduced to New Zealand and South Korea. The species produces melezitose, a trisaccharide sugar, and is associated with specific semiochemicals including nepetalactone compounds. It is attended by ants such as Formica polyctena and serves as a host for Entomophthora fungi, though it experiences low parasitism by the wasp Pauesia pini.
Gilpinia
conifer sawflies
Gilpinia is a genus of conifer sawflies in the family Diprionidae, comprising approximately 20 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, and North America. Several species are significant forest pests, notably G. hercyniae (European spruce sawfly) and G. polytoma, which feed on spruce (Picea) species. The genus exhibits complex life history strategies including facultative diapause and variable voltinism (one to three generations annually) depending on geographic location and climate. Species identification relies heavily on morphological examination of the ovipositor, male genitalia, and wing coloration.
Hylurgops palliatus
Hylurgops palliatus is a bark beetle in the family Curculionidae that colonizes coniferous trees, primarily spruce (Picea) and pine (Pinus) species. It is a secondary bark beetle, meaning it attacks weakened, dying, or recently dead trees rather than healthy ones. The species uses host-specific monoterpene chemical cues to locate and select appropriate host trees. It vectors various fungi, including ophiostomatoid species, which play roles in its ecology and tree colonization.
Piceacecis
Piceacecis is a genus of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) described by Gagné in 2014. The genus is associated with spruce trees (genus Picea), as indicated by its etymology. As a recently described genus within the diverse gall midge family, its species are likely specialized in inducing galls on spruce foliage or shoots. The genus has been recorded from Denmark.
Pineus similis
Ragged Spruce Gall Adelgid
Pineus similis is a gall-forming adelgid that induces galls on spruce trees (Picea spp.). Originally described as Chermes similis by Gillette in 1907 from blue spruce in Colorado, it was later transferred to genus Pineus by Annand. The species produces winged females that emerge from galls and settle on spruce hosts, with documented preference for white spruce. Wingless females bearing egg clusters occur within galls. It has been recorded on multiple spruce species across North America and has doubtful or rare records in Europe.
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.
Tragosoma
Tragosoma is a genus of large saproxylic longhorn beetles in the subfamily Prioninae, distributed across the Holarctic region. The genus includes approximately six described species, with Tragosoma depsarium being the most widely studied and the type species. These beetles are obligate deadwood specialists whose larvae develop in the sapwood of conifers, particularly pines. Adults are notable for their robust, somewhat flattened bodies and relatively short antennae compared to other cerambycids. Several species are of conservation concern due to their dependence on specific deadwood microhabitats threatened by modern forestry practices.