Pine-tree lappet or pine moth is a European native, but is also knownin the western part of Asia. It has not yet been detected in NorthAmerica. The most likely method of introduction would be eggsand pupae hidden in the bark crevasses of unprocessed logs. Hostsare a wide range of conifers including fir, cedar, juniper, spruce, pine,Douglas-fir, and larch. From late-June through August, adult femaleslay eggs in groups of about 100. Females do not fly until after theyhave laid some of their eggs. The pinhead-sized (1/16 inch) eggs areblue-green when first deposited, later turning gray. Eggs hatch inabout 14 days. Caterpillars first feed on egg shells, then on needles.First instar larvae can be wind dispersed as well as crawl significantdistances to reach uninfested trees. One larva may consume up to1,000 needles. When no needles are present, the bark of young shootsis also eaten. Mature larvae are 2-3 inches long with soft, gray to brownishhairs. Identifying features of the caterpillar include thickbands of steel blue and black hairs on the thorax and a black markflanked by irregular white lines on the abdominal segments. After thefirst frost, caterpillars move to the litter on the forest floor to overwinter.The following spring, they return to the canopy to resume feeding. InJune, yellow-brown to black cocoons marked with steel blue hairsstart being formed in bark crevices and on needles and branches. Adultsemerge in roughly 4 weeks. Identifying features of the 2 to 3 1/2 inchmoth include gray-brown to brown forewings with a reddish brownlateral band and an irregular dark-brown to black stripe along theedges. Hind wings are red brown to gray brown. Males are usuallydarker than females.

Resources

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• The Atlas of Forest Insect Pests - The Polish Forest Research Institute
• Exotic Forest Pest Information System For North America - North American Forest Commission

Selected Images

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Invasive Listing Sources

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• Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
• National Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Target Species
• National Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Target Species - 2015
• North American Forest Commission Exotic Forest Pest Information System
• Pests not known to occur in the United States or of limited distribution

References

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Common Name Reference: Web Search - http://www-pherolist.slu.se/ins/dendrpini.html
Scientific Name Reference: Web Search - http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1639