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Barbara colfaxiana (Olethreutidae)
Douglas-fir cone moth
Adults:
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The adult is a small moth (wingspan 15-20 mm) with greyish
brown speckled forewings. |
Larvae:
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Yellowish white caterpillar. Feeding around axis of cone.
A proportion of seeds can be consumed by a single caterpillar. |
Damage:
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Eggs are laid on flowers in early spring. Young larvae begin
feeding on scale tissue but as they mature, feed more on seeds. By the end
of July, they pupate in a tough pitch-coated cocoon in the centre of the
cone. Pupae may remain in diapause for 1-3 years in the old cones after they
have fallen from the trees. |
Principal Hosts:
Douglas-fir
and
true firs.
Economic Importance:
A serious cone and seed pest. B. colfaxiana occurs throughout the
range of Douglas-fir but more frequently and causes more serious damage in
drier interior regions.
References and Links:
EAG: 547-548, 550; FC: 143.
Factsheet
Additional Images:
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