Native
Cydia toreuta complex (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Grapholitini)
Common names: pine seedworms
Included species:
Cydia toreuta (Grote)
Cydia ingens (Heinrich)
Cydia anaranjada (Miller)
Cydia erotella (Heinrich)
Cydia piperana Kearfott
Cydia injectiva (Heinrich)
Cydia miscitata (Heinrich)
Cydia colorana Kearfott
The Cydia toreuta complex consists of ten or eleven described species in the United States. Several additional species, both described and undescribed, occur in Mexico. Species are primarily characterized by differences in larval host preference, distribution, and subtle differences in forewing pattern, hindwing color, and genitalia (especially females). We include eight species on this site. Two additional species belonging to this complex, C. montezuma and C. lati signasignum:
a sclerotized projection or patch on the interior of the corpus bursae
, are primarily Mexican in distribution with only rare records from the United States. Cydia toreuta is the most common and widespread eastern species; Cydia piperana is the most common and widespread western species.
Species in this complex are generally considered minor pests of pine (Pinus spp.). Life histories are remarkably similar. Most species are univoltine with adults present in the East from late May to early August depending on latitude and on the West Coast from February to June. Eggs are deposited in the spring or early summer on green cones that will mature before the end of the summer. The eggs soon hatch and the larvae immediately enter the cone. Larvae feed on seeds throughout the summer and overwinter as fifth instar larvae. Pupation occurs in the following and adults emerge shortly thereafter (Abrahamson & Kraft 1965).
Larvae feed in the cones of various Pinus species with many species restricted to a single species. Other species (such as C. toreuta) feed on multiple species of Pinus, but may represent a cryptic species complex.
The following account of larval morphology is summarized from MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..
Larvae of only a few species have been formally described. Mature larvae are approximately 6-12 mm in length with a yellow-brown head and white to pale yellow body, including the prothoracic shieldprothoracic shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the prothorax
and anal shieldanal shield:
a sclerotized plate on the dorsal surface of the last abdominal segment (in larvae)
. An anal fork is absent. Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxychaetotaxy:
the arrangement of setae (in reference to Lepidoptera larvae), often depicted on a "setal map"
for C. ingens and C. injectiva are available in MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..
Forewings are generally dark grayish brown (orange-brown in C. anaranjada) with three transverse metallic bars running from costacosta:
the anterior margin of each wing
to dorsumdorsum:
the lower (usually posterior) or inner margin
. Males lack a forewing costal foldforewing costal fold:
a flap or fold at the base of the forewing that contains specialized sex scales
. Forewing length varies according to species and is often useful in making identifications. Cydia erotella and C. toreuta are among the smallest species (FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
4.0-7.5 mm); Cydia ingens and C. piperana are among the largest (FWLFWL:
forewing length; the distance from the base of the forewing to the apex, including fringe
7.0-10.0 mm).
Species |
Host plant(s) |
Distribution |
Comments |
C. toreuta |
Pinus virginiana, Pinus taeda, Pinus echinata, Pinus contorta |
eastern North America except southeastern coastal plain |
records from P. banksiana and P. resinosa may represent undescribed species |
C. ingens |
Pinus palustris |
southeastern coastal plain from Louisiana to South Carolina |
records from Maryland and New Hampshire require confirmation |
C. anaranjada |
Pinus elliottii, Pinus palustris |
Florida, Georgia |
|
C. erotella |
Pinus taeda |
eastern United States |
|
C. piperana |
Pinus ponderosa |
Western North America (Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California) |
|
C. injectiva |
Pinus jeffreyi |
California, southern Oregon |
records included in Heinrich (1926)Heinrich (1926): |
C. miscitata |
Pinus ponderosa, Pinus jeffreyi |
northern California and southern Oregon |
Heinrich (1926)Heinrich (1926): |
C. colorana |
Pinus edulis |
Colorado, Nevada, California |
View full screen host table here
Fig. 4: Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service (www.insectimages.org)
Larva in cone. © Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service (www.insectimages.org)
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