Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489
Cydia piperana
This record describes Cydia piperana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - dark brownish gray, finely speckled by whitish scale tips, and with three raised, transverse bars of metallic lead- or bronze-colored scaling. Hindwing is entirely smokey brown Can inflict serious damage on seed crops of Ponderosa pines, however, no damage is visible externally.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Grapholitini
- Genus
- Cydia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western United States ( 3 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly from February to June, varying with elevation and latitude.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: As the common name suggests, Pinus ponderosa seeds provide food for the larvae.
Life History
Eggs are deposited on the surface of green cones, and the larvae burrow in the main axis of the cone and into the seeds. Pupation occurs in fall and winter. Cones collected as Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations sometimes produce moths in homes!
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet in honor of Charles Vancouver Piper (1867-1926), botanist and agriculturist, who collected the first specimens. The orchid genus Piperia is also named for him.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cydia piperana. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Graham Montgomery; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489
What is Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489?
Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489 (Cydia piperana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489?
Forewing length 8.0-10.5 mm, males larger than females. Mature larvae 10-15 mm.
How do you identify Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489?
Adult - dark brownish gray, finely speckled by whitish scale tips, and with three raised, transverse bars of metallic lead- or bronze-colored scaling. Hindwing is entirely smokey brown
Where is Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489 found?
Range: Western United States ( 3 )
What does Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489 eat?
The diet of the Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489 includes As the common name suggests, Pinus ponderosa seeds provide food for the larvae..
When is Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489 active?
Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489: seasonal activity - Adults fly from February to June, varying with elevation and latitude..
What is the life cycle of a Ponderosa Pine Seedworm Moth - Hodges#3489?
Eggs are deposited on the surface of green cones, and the larvae burrow in the main axis of the cone and into the seeds. Pupation occurs in fall and winter. Cones collected as Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations sometimes produce moths in homes!