Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595
Pococera robustella
This record describes Pococera robustella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Natural enemies keep them from being a serious pest under normal circumstances, with the damage being mostly cosmetic- though they can completely strip the needles from smaller seedlings.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Epipaschiinae
- Genus
- Pococera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Canada, Eastern US from Minnesota to New England and south to Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillars feed on the needles of various pines
Life History
Eggs are laid on the flat sides of pine needles- usually in first or second-year seedlings- with the young larvae mining the insides of the needles until they outgrow them. At that time they spin a nest of silk webbing and frass, which they share with others, gathering needles from around their nest and bringing them back to the nest to eat. When ready to pupate they crawl to the ground and spin a cocoon in the soil, passing the winter in this state in cooler climates. Eventually they emerge as moths to mate, lay eggs, and start the cycle over again. In the south they can have as many as 3 generations per year, but in the north they have just one.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pococera robustella. 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 Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz , ceiseman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Marci Hess , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595
What is Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595?
Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595 (Pococera robustella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595 found?
Range: Southern Canada, Eastern US from Minnesota to New England and south to Florida.
What does Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595 eat?
The diet of the Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595 includes Caterpillars feed on the needles of various pines.
What is the life cycle of a Pine Webworm - Hodges#5595?
Eggs are laid on the flat sides of pine needles- usually in first or second-year seedlings- with the young larvae mining the insides of the needles until they outgrow them. At that time they spin a nest of silk webbing and frass, which they share with others, gathering needles from around their nest and bringing them back to the nest to eat. When ready to pupate they crawl to the ground and spin a cocoon in the soil, passing the winter in this state in cooler climates. Eventually they emerge as moths to mate, lay eggs, and start the cycle over again. In the south they can have as many as 3 generations per year, but in the north they have just one.