White pine cone borer, Eucosma tocullionana Heinrich (1, 32, 44)

BIOLOGY. - Knowledge of the biology of the white pine cone borer is incomplete. The first signs of damage appear in late spring, and pupation and adult emergence occur in middle to late summer. The attack pattern is similar to that of the shortleaf pine cone borer, particularly in cones of Virginia pine.

INSECT IDENTIFICATION. - Larvae of the white pine cone borer are similar in size to the shortleaf pine cone borer but are greenish-brown and do not have a distinct dark patch (anal shield) on the top of the last abdominal segment. The moths have distinct patches of alternating rich-brown and light-tan scales on the forewings.

Adult. (4X)

Larva. (3X)

DAMAGE IDENTIFICATION. - Eastern white pine cones are peppered with many small holes and
covered with patches of extruded frass. Virginia pine cones attacked by either the white pine cone borer or shortleaf pine cone borer are indistinguishable.

Damage to eastern white pine cones. (1X)

IMPORTANCE. - While relatively limited observations have been made on this insect, its recent destructive occurrence in young seed orchards indicates it has the potential to be a serious pest of eastern white and Virginia pines.