Native
Choristoneura currently comprises about 50 described species distributed primarily in the Holarctic region. Several species have recently been described from sub-Saharan Africa and placed in Choristoneura, but they may belong to other genera. On this site, we include or mention 13 of the 15 currently recognized North American species along with all of their described subspecies.
This genus contains some of the most economically important and devastating forest pests in the world. Some species are monophagous while others are highly polyphagous. In outbreak years, members of the Choristoneura fumiferana complex can defoliate large stands of conifers in northern and western North America. Choristoneura conflictana does the same with trembling aspen. Other species, such as C. rosaceana and C. parallela, are widespread, extremely polyphagous pests on large number of important food crops.
Identification of members of the genus, primarily species in the fumiferana complex, can be extremely difficult, even with molecular tools. Much is still to be learned about species boundaries, speciation, and phylogenetic relationships withing this genus.
Species |
Male FW costal fold |
Male costal margincostal margin: |
FW ground color |
Fasciaefascia: |
Distribution |
Preferred host |
absent |
concave |
usually gray |
poorly-defined |
boreal |
Populus tremuloides |
|
present |
sinuous |
yellow or pale brown |
poorly-defined |
eastern North America |
polyphagous |
|
absent |
concave |
red-orange or pale brown |
poorly-defined |
eastern North America except boreal |
polyphagous |
|
absent |
concave |
red-orange or pale brown |
well-defined |
eastern North America except boreal |
polyphagous |
|
present |
sinuous |
red-orange or pale brown |
well-defined |
widespread in North America |
polyphagous |
|
C. zapulata |
absent |
concave |
red-orange or pale brown |
well-defined |
boreal |
unknown |
C. fumiferana complex |
absent |
concave |
variable |
variable, usually blotchy |
widespread in North America, primarily boreal and western US |
Pinaceae |
absent |
concave |
red-orange or pale brown |
blotchy |
southern and northeastern US |
Juniperus spp. |
View full screen host table here