Moths of North Carolina
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12 NC Records

Choristoneura pinus Freeman, 1953 - Jack Pine Budworm Moth

Choristoneura pinusChoristoneura pinusChoristoneura pinusChoristoneura pinus
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Tortricoidea Family: TortricidaeSubfamily: TortricinaeTribe: ArchipiniP3 Number: 51a0308 MONA Number: 3643.00
Comments: Choristoneura pinus is a member of a species complex that includes seven or eight closely related species and numerous biotypes. They all have nearly identical life histories and are best identified by their range and host plants (Lumley and Sperling 2010, 2011; Nealis, 2015).
Species Status: The Jack Pine Budworm Moth can be a significant pest on Jack Pine where it can kill tops and deform the plants. Occasional outbreaks that last 2-4 years can result in heavy losses of pole timber and saplings. In heavily infested stands, other young understory conifers such as Red Pine and White Pine also can be severely defoliated and killed.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Freeman (1953)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Baker (1962)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The head, palps, antennae, and thorax vary from light brown to reddish-brown. The forewing patterning and coloration is variable, but typically consists of a mosaic of small silvery-brown to reddish-silvery patches that are surrounded by dark brown or dark red striae that produce a reticulated pattern. The costa is marked similar to the overall wing patterns except for two or three whitish streaks or paired strigulae that occur at around one-fourth, just beyond the middle, and before the apex, with the center mark typically the most prominent. The hindwing is brown with a slightly paler fringe that has a thin brown basal line. Specimens from the southern portion of the range, including North Carolina, tend to be redder and have the white costal marks reduced relative to those from the northern US and Canada.
Wingspan: 15-28 mm (Baker, 1962)
Adult Structural Features: Freeman (1953) has illustrations of the male and female genitalia and Dang (1992) has a detailed description and illustrations of the male genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on conifers and the following life history account is mostly from that of Baker (1972). The adults typically emerge from late-June through early August in northern populations, and a month or more earlier in the southern portion of the range. After mating, the females lay their eggs in clusters of about 40 eggs each, and hatching occurs about 10 days later. The hatchlings disperse without feeding to hibernation sites that are under bark scales on the trunk or larger limbs, or between needles. They then spin a cocoon and molt to the second instar. They remain in diapause throughout the remainder of the summer, fall, and winter. They emerge in the spring about the time that the staminate flowers are shedding their pollen and either mine the needles or feed on the catkins and pollen. Some usually remain in the flower clusters throughout the entire feeding period, but the majority migrate to well-developed new foliage to feed. The needles are not consumed entirely, but are usually clipped off near the base and webbed together with needle debris to form a protective shelter. Pupation occurs among the needles or between webbed shoots, and the adults emerge within a week or two. The full-grown larva is 20-22 mm long and has a shiny light reddish-brown to black head, a dark brown prothoracic shield that is separated from the head by a narrow white band, and a reddish brown body with yellowish sides and two rows of white dots along the back.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Choristoneura pinus is broadly distributed in North America and can be found in most regions of southern Canada from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, in the eastern US, and in the Pacific Northwest. In the eastern US the range extends from Maine to northern Florida and westward to central Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, and northeastern North Dakota. As of 2023, we have records from the southern Coastal Plain and eastern 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: The adults fly from March through August in different areas of the range, with a seasonal peak in most areas typically in June and July. As of 2023, our records are all from May.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is generally associated with pine forests, particularly Jack Pine stands in the northern portion of the range. Most of our records are from coastal pine forests and pine savannas.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on a number of different species of pines as well as other conifers (Brown et al., 2008; Eiseman, 2022; Freeman, 1958; Heppner, 2007; Prentice, 1966). The known hosts include Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), larches (Larix), White Spruce (Picea glauca), Black Spruce (P. mariana), Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), Red Pine (P. resinosa), Pitch Pine (P. rigida), Eastern White Pine (P. strobus), Scots Pine (P. sylvestris) and Virginia Pine (P. virginiana). Jack Pine is the most important host in the north (Prentice, 1966), while Virginia Pine, Pitch Pine, and other pines are used outside of the range of Jack Pine. Many of the species listed above are secondarily consumed during outbreaks when they are in close proximity to Jack Pine stands. Host use has not been documented in North Carolina, but Pocosin Pine is a likely candidate along the coast given that it is very closely related to Pitch Pine. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found feeding on pine catkins and pine needles.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR S2S3
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon within the state with only seven site records as of 2023. We need additional information on its host use, distribution, and abundance before we can fully assess its conservation status.

 Photo Gallery for Choristoneura pinus - Jack Pine Budworm Moth

Photos: 10

Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-23
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-05-18
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-13
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2021-05-13
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-05-16
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann on 2020-05-16
Craven Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn on 2020-05-13
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof, E. Corey on 2011-05-25
Burke Co.
Comment: SOMO - Obs. at the park's visitor center. @ -81.600566, 35.596478