Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853
Dioryctria amatella
This record describes Dioryctria amatella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW dark gray to brown to nearly black and are boldly patterned with multiple contrasting white patches and zig-zag crossbands. The hindwings are light gray to tan.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Dioryctria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Found in the south-eastern United States, from Maryland south to Florida and west into Texas.
Seasonal Activity
There are one to four generations per year, with adults on wing from early April to early November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The preferred host is longleaf pine, but other pines have been reported.
Life History
The species overwinters as an early instar larvae at the base of persistent cones, under bud scales or in fusiform galls on branches and stems.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dioryctria amatella. 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 Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by cotinis , Chuck Entz , Robert Lord Zimlich , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853
What is Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853?
Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853 (Dioryctria amatella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853?
Wingspan: 27–32 mm
How do you identify Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853?
Adult : FW dark gray to brown to nearly black and are boldly patterned with multiple contrasting white patches and zig-zag crossbands. The hindwings are light gray to tan.
Where is Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853 found?
Range: Found in the south-eastern United States, from Maryland south to Florida and west into Texas.
What does Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853 eat?
The diet of the Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853 includes The preferred host is longleaf pine, but other pines have been reported..
When is Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853 active?
Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853: seasonal activity - There are one to four generations per year, with adults on wing from early April to early November..
What is the life cycle of a Southern Pine Coneworm - Hodges#5853?
The species overwinters as an early instar larvae at the base of persistent cones, under bud scales or in fusiform galls on branches and stems.