Cydia toreuta complex

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Cydia toreuta complex (Tortricidae: Olethreutinae: Grapholitini)

Common names: pine seedworms

Included species:

Cydia toreuta (Grote)

• Common name: eastern pine seedworm

Cydia ingens (Heinrich)

• Common name: longleaf pine seedworm​

Cydia anaranjada (Miller)

• Common name: slash pine seedworm

Cydia erotella (Heinrich)

• Common name: loblolly pine seedworm

Cydia piperana Kearfott

• Common name: ponderosa pine seedworm

Cydia injectiva (Heinrich)

• Common name: Jeffrey pine seedworm

Cydia miscitata (Heinrich)

• Common name: hybrid pine seedworm

Cydia colorana Kearfott

• Common name: two-needle pinyon pine seedworm

Overview

The Cydia toreuta complex consists of ten or eleven described species in the United States. Several additional species, both described and undescribed, occur in Mexico. Species are primarily characterized by differences in larval host preference, distribution, and subtle differences in forewing pattern, hindwing color, and genitalia (especially females). We include eight species on this site. Two additional species belonging to this complex, C. montezuma and C. latisigna, are primarily Mexican in distribution with only rare records from the United States. Cydia toreuta is the most common and widespread eastern species; Cydia piperana is the most common and widespread western species.

Species in this complex are generally considered minor pests of pine (Pinus spp.). Life histories are remarkably similar. Most species are univoltine with adults present in the East from late May to early August depending on latitude and on the West Coast from February to June. Eggs are deposited in the spring or early summer on green cones that will mature before the end of the summer. The eggs soon hatch and the larvae immediately enter the cone. Larvae feed on seeds throughout the summer and overwinter as fifth instar larvae. Pupation occurs in the following and adults emerge shortly thereafter (Abrahamson and Kraft 1965Abrahamson and Kraft 1965:
Abrahamson, L. P., Kraft., K. J. 1965. A population study of the cone moth Laspeyresia toreuta Grote in Pinus banksiana stands. Ecology. 46: 561–563.).

Larvae feed in the cones of various Pinus species with many species restricted to a single species. Other species (such as C. toreuta) feed on multiple species of Pinus but may represent a cryptic species complex.

The following account of larval morphology is summarized from MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Larvae of only a few species have been formally described. Mature larvae are approximately 6–12 mm in length with a yellow-brown head and white to pale yellow body, including the prothoracic shield and anal shield. An anal fork is absent. Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy for C. ingens and C. injectiva are available in MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Forewings are generally dark grayish brown (orange-brown in C. anaranjada) with three transverse metallic bars running from costa to dorsum. Males lack a forewing costal fold. Forewing length varies according to species and is often useful in making identifications. Cydia erotella and C. toreuta are among the smallest species (FWL 4.0-7.5 mm); Cydia ingens and C. piperana are among the largest (FWL 7.0-10.0 mm).

Species	Host plant(s)	Distribution	Comments
toreuta	Pinus virginiana, P. taeda, P. echinata, P. contorta	eastern North America except southeastern coastal plain	records from P. banksiana and P. resinosa may represent undescribed species
ingens	Pinus palustris	southeastern coastal plain from Louisiana to South Carolina	records from Maryland and New Hampshire require confirmation
anaranjada	Pinus elliottii, P. palustris	Florida, Georgia
erotella	Pinus taeda	eastern United States
piperana	Pinus ponderosa	western North America (Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California)
injectiva	Pinus jeffreyi	California, southern Oregon	records included in Heinrich (1926)Heinrich (1926): Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216. from North Carolina are dubious
miscitata	Pinus ponderosa, P. jeffreyi	northern California and southern Oregon	Heinrich (1926)Heinrich (1926): Heinrich, C. 1926. Revision of the North American moths of the subfamilies Laspeyresiinae and Olethreutinae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 132: 1-216. hypothesized this to be a hybrid of C. piperana/C. injectiva
colorana	Pinus edulis	Colorado, Nevada, California

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and distribution maps for species in this complex in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.