340 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY Vol. 



A DESTRUCTIVE PINE-MOTH INTRODUCED FROM EUROPE 



{Evetria huoliana Schiffenniller) 



By August Busck, of Branch of Forest Insects, Bureau of Entomolo'jy, United States 



Department of Agriculture 



In May, this year, a correspondent from Long Island reported to 

 the Division of Forest Insects of the United States Bureau of Ento- 

 mology, that a Lepidopterous insect was seriously injuring some 

 young Scotch pines (Pimis sylvestris), under his surveillance at Great 

 Neck. Specimens of the larvge and the injury were referred to the 

 writer for identification. 



The severity of the injury was at once realized, but- the larva could 

 not be identified. In order to ascertain the extent of the injury and 

 to obtain sufficient live material for study and rearing, the writer was 

 authorized to visit the locality and this was done on June 1. It was 

 found that the trees had been planted on both sides of avenues, in 

 a large, newly developed suburban tract, and that all of these trees 

 were heavily infested by a Lepidopterous larva, which tunnelled the 

 tips of the leading branches and thereby severely checked the growth 

 and injured the appearance of the trees. On some of the young trees, 

 eight to ten feet high, as many as fifty terminal shoots had been 

 destroyed and their usefulness as ornamental trees was much impaired. 



At this time many of the larvae had pupated and from the material 

 secured a large number of the moths issued during the last half of 

 June at the field station for forest insects, East Falls Church, Va. 

 It proved to be the well-known European Evetria huoliana Schiffer- 

 miller, which has hitherto not been reported from this country. 



This species, which also occurs in Siberia, does considerable damage 

 to the pines of Europe, and it has been the object of much study 

 and an extensive literature. It is generally recognized by leading 

 foresters in Europe as one of the most or even the one most injurious 

 insect to Pinus sylvestris and other pines. A characteristic result 

 of the injury of this insect is a peculiar curved growth, the so-called 

 "Posthorner," "Baionnette," which is a familiar sight in European 

 pine forests, and Avhich seriously depreciates the value of the trees. 



The occurrence of this insect on Long Island is, therefore, of some 

 importance; our several indigenous Evetria species already constitute 

 a serious problem, especially in the culture of young pine trees, and 

 this European importation may well outrank our native species in 

 desfcructiveness. However, it is futile to speculate about the possible 

 spread of the species to our native pines and the resulting injury, 

 but it is, at least, a just cause for apprehension and it should be care- 



