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Field Guide Descriptions: Leckie and Beadle (2018) | Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD | Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923) | Technical Description, Immature Stages: Allyson (1977); Mayfield (2007); Wallesz and Benjamin (1960) | |
| Adult Markings: The Pine Webworm Moth is a small grayish to brownish moth with broad wings and broad bands on the forewing. The following description is based in part on that of Forbes (1923) and Mayfield (2007). The upper head and thorax vary from light grayish brown to brown and are more or less concolorous with the basal portion of the forewing. The antenna is brownish and is about two-thirds the forewing length. The basal third of the forewing varies from dark gray to dark brown and typically becomes paler towards the base. The remainder of the forewing is pale gray to light brown, except for the apical one-fifth to one-fourth that is dark gray to dark brown and forms a wide, terminal band. The terminal band is separated from the lighter central region by a jagged, dark brown post-median line with a slightly lighter posterior border. Some individuals also have a fine whitish line that separated the light central region from the darker basal third of the wing. A marginal row of dark bars is present along the termen at the juncture with the cilia. The hindwing is brown with lighter cilia that are separated by a darker marginal line. |
| Wingspan: 22-25 mm (Forbes, 1923; Mayfield 2007) |
| Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens. |
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on pine needles and live in communal nests that are known as 'frass nests'. Hertel and Benjamin (1979) studied populations in Slash Pine plantations in northern Florida where there are typically three generations per year. The female lays a small mass of 2-10 eggs on a pine needle. The first three instars typically mine the needles, whereas the fourth through sixth instars share a common nest on a branch or main stem. Second and third instars also occasionally can be found in frass nests. The frass nest is a large oblong structure that is typically 5-15 cm long. It consists of brown fecal pellets and dead needles and debris that are bound together with silk. The larvae periodically either partially or completely exit the nest to clip needles that they bring back into the nest to consume. The fully grown larvae are 13 to 18 mm long and the head is light brown with black markings. The abdomen is light brown with darker longitudinal stripes (Allyson, 1977; Mayfield, 2007). The mature larva eventually moves to the ground and pupates within a silken cocoon (Hertel and Benjamin 1979). In Wisconsin, local populations are single-brooded and the larvae overwinter in sand-covered cocoons beneath the host tree. Pupation occurs in early June and the adults emerge about two weeks later (Wallesz and Benjamin, 1960). The larvae appear in early July and spend at least the first instar mining needles before they construct a frass nest.
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| Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants. |