Moths of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha): Choose a Family

Home

View PDF	Tortricidae Members:	Cydia Members:	69 NC Records

Cydia toreuta (Grote, 1873) - Eastern Pine Seedworm Moth

view caption

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Tortricoidea

Family:
Tortricidae

Subfamily:
Olethreutinae

Tribe:
Grapholitini

P3 Number:
51a1372

MONA Number:
3486.00

Comments: Cydia toreuta and C. ingens are members of a species complex that includes several other described and possibly undescribed species (Gilligan and Epstein, 2014). The two species in this complex that occur in North Carolina can be distinguished using molecular markers, genitalia, and external morphology.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Adult Markings: Cydia ingens and C. toreuta are two externally similar forms that have short, sordid white palps and whitish brown coloration on the head, thorax, and wing base. The ground of the apical two-thirds of the forewing has brownish scales with sordid white tips that produce a bronzy stippled effect. It is overlain with several metallic bars that are edged inwardly and outwardly with black. A complete bar is present at mid-wing, along with a postmedial bar that is more oblique or angulated and sometimes broken into a dorsal and ventral bar of roughly similar size. A subterminal bar is present that parallels the termen, and one or two relatively short bars are present along the costa between the postmedial and subterminal bars. A conspicuous thin black terminal line is present at the wing tip that is followed by a dull, silvery white fringe. The hindwing is smoky fuscous with paler cilia that have a dark basal band.

Individuals of the two species that occur in North Carolina -- and in which their identify was confirmed based on genitalia -- can be separated using a combination of traits (see illustration above). These include whether the postmedial bar is broken or complete, whether one or two costal bars are present between the postmedial and subterminal bars, and whether a gap is present between the subterminal bar and the black terminal line on the dorsal half of the termen (both species typically have a gap on the costal half of the termen). Cydia toreuta typically has an unbroken postmedial bar (sometimes broken), two costal bars between the postmedial and subterminal bars, and a gap between the subterminal bar and the black terminal line on the dorsal half of the termen. The presence or absence of the gap appears to be the most reliable trait for distinguishing between species. These species can also be readily identified using both male and female genitalia and molecular markers.

Wingspan: 13-15 mm

Structural photos

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Hedlin et al. (1980) noted that all of the Cydia species that feed on pine seeds have very similar life histories and provided a general summary that applies to both Cydia toreuta and C. ingens. The females mate and lay their eggs in the spring on developing second year female cones. The young larvae bore between cone scales and then enter seeds where they consume one seed before moving to the next. They overwinter in the cone axis (middle part of the cone), then pupate with the spring warm-up. The adults emerge about two weeks later and the females lay eggs on the developing cones. Thus, the phenology and life cycle is strongly centered on when the second year female cones are developing seasonally. The larvae are rather drab whitish and have a grub-like appearance.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: As currently recognized, C. toreuta occurs throughout much of the forested areas of the eastern US and adjoining areas of southern Canada (Hedlin et al. 1980). It occurs statewide in North Carolina except for the high mountains and appears to be most common in the Piedmont.

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: late April through early July.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Cydia toreuta relies on pines as a host and can be found in pine or mixed hardwood-pine associations throughout the state.

Larval Host Plants: This wide-ranging species has been reported to use a variety of both northern and southern pines. Species that were listed by Hedlin et al. (1980) include Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), Lodgepole Pine (P. contorta), Shortleaf Pine (P. echinata), Loblolly Pine (P. taeda), Red Pine (Pinus resinosa), and Virginia Pine (P. virginiana). Although poorly documented, this species probably uses all three of the southern pines listed above. Loblolly Pine does not occur in the western mountains where Virginia Pine and Shortleaf Pine are the likely hosts. - View

Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and can be reared from infected cones.

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Pine Forests and Woodlands

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S4S5

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Populations are found statewide and appear to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Cydia toreuta - Eastern Pine Seedworm Moth

67 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-12 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-06-08 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-31 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-30 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-25 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-22 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-06-19 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-06-17 Lincoln Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-17 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-12 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-11 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-09 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-06-09 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-07 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-07 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-06-04 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-02 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-05-31 Carteret Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-30 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-05-24 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-06 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-06-18 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-17 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-13 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-06-07 Durham Co. Comment: