Spruce-budworm
Guides
Actia
Actia is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the tribe Siphonini. These flies are parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, with species recorded from hosts including spruce budworm, black-headed budworm, and various noctuid moths. The genus contains at least eight Nearctic species, including four described relatively recently (A. dasymyia, A. dimorpha, A. radialis, A. sternalis). Species are grouped into three species groups based on morphological and phylogenetic affinities: autumnalis-group, lamia-group, and crassicornis-group.
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 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.
Glypta
Glypta is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. Species are endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, particularly tortricid moths including spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) and related forest pests. Several species have been studied for their role in biological control of economically important forest insects. Adult females locate host larvae using chemical cues and oviposit eggs internally; parasitoid larvae develop within the host and kill it upon emergence.
Glypta fumiferanae
Glypta fumiferanae is an ichneumonid wasp that parasitizes spruce budworm larvae (Choristoneura fumiferana and C. occidentalis). As an endoparasitoid, females deposit eggs inside host larvae, and developing wasp offspring consume the host from within. This species is a significant natural enemy of spruce budworm, a major defoliator of coniferous forests in North America. Adult females are synovigenic and require carbohydrate feeding (honey) for extended longevity and high fecundity; unfed adults survive only 2–5 days and produce far fewer eggs.
Madremyia
Madremyia is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the tribe Eryciini. The genus includes at least three described species, with Madremyia saundersii being a documented parasitoid of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), a major forest pest in North America. Tachinid flies in this genus are larval parasitoids of Lepidoptera.
Smidtia fumiferanae
Smidtia fumiferanae is a tachinid fly species described by Tothill in 1912. It belongs to the tribe Winthemiini within the subfamily Exoristinae. The species epithet 'fumiferanae' indicates an association with Choristoneura fumiferana, the spruce budworm, suggesting it may be a parasitoid of this economically important forest pest. The species has been recorded in GBIF with limited observation data.
Tranosema
Tranosema is a genus of ichneumonid parasitoid wasps found in Europe and North America. Species in this genus are endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, particularly tortricid moths. The best-studied species, T. rostrale, is a koinobiont parasitoid of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) and transmits a polydnavirus (ichnovirus) to its host during oviposition, which alters host development and physiology.