Carpenterworm moths begin to appear in early April in the South, the last week 
of May in the Central States, and the first week of June in more northerly regions. 
The female deposits as many as 450 to 800 eggs in groups in bark crevices, near 
wounds, or under vines, lichens, or moss. Young larvae bore directly to the inner 
bark or enter it through openings, then bore into the wood, their tunnels angling 
upward in the sapwood and straight upward in the heartwood. Feeding may be 
finished in | year in the Deep South but may continue for 3 or 4 years in the North. 
Tunnels are kept open and enlarged as needed by the growing larvae; eventually 
tunnels may reach a diameter of 18 mm and a length of 300 mm. Mature larvae line 
their tunnels with loose, silky, yellowish-brown webs. Pupation occurs at the upper 
end of the tunnel. Before completing its transformation to an adult, the pupa 
wriggles to the mouth of the tunnel and continues until its head and thorax are 
protruding. Even after the adult has formed and departed, the pupal case usually 
remains in place, sticking out of the opening. 
Carpenterworms seldom kill trees outright, although heavily riddled small trees 
may be broken off by the wind. Open-grown trees, or trees growing on poor sites 
such as dry ridgetops or ridge slopes, are especially subject to attack and damage. 
The greatest damage results from the degrade of lumber cut from infested trees. The 
overall value of rough-cut, oak lumber may be reduced by as much as 15 percent. 
Borer-caused losses, mostly carpenterworm, in oaks cut in the Ozark National 
Forest, Ark., and updated to 1980 lumber prices amounted to $42 per 5.7 cubic 
meters (//3/). 
Woodpeckers, other birds, and spiders destroy large numbers of carpenterworms 
and are among the most important natural controls. Insect parasitism is inconse- 
quential. Fungi and other disease pathogens kill some larvae. Cultural practices that 
promote tree vigor, recognize and remove brood trees, and minimize bark injuries 
will help to reduce losses in the forest. Shade trees can be protected by painting 
injuries with wound dressing. Larvae in small trees can be killed by probing their 
tunnels with a wire. Insecticides applied at the time of oviposition and egg hatch 
can be used to protect high-value trees. 
The little carpenterworm, P. macmurtrei (Guérin), a species very similar to the 
carpenterworm, is widely distributed in eastern Canada and the Eastern United 
States. The larvae are borers in oaks, and their habits are similar to those of the 
carpenterworm. They spend their first summer in the outer layers of bark and the 
second in the sapwood. During the third summer, they bore in the woody part of the 
tree, making a labyrinth of crossing and recrossing tunnels. The third winter is 
spent in the pupal stage in the tunnel. This species attacks all parts of the tree more 
than 25 mm in diameter, and trees infested continuously become badly hon- 
eycombed. Fortunately, infestations are usually local. 
Family Tortricidae—Subfamily Olethreutinae 
Olethreutine and Leafroller Moths 
This subfamily contains a large number of economically important species of 
forest insects (1004). Several are particularly important as pests in nurseries and 
plantations. The larvae differ widely in their feeding habits. Some feed by boring 
into the buds, twigs, stems, roots, seed, or fruit of their hosts; others, as leafminers, 
feed on the foliage from within folded leaves or on the exposed surface. Many 
adults and larvae of North American species are described (55/, 552, 792, 793). 
Episimus argutanus (Clemens) is widely distributed and feeds as a leafroller on 
sumac, poison-ivy, witch-hazel, and various other shrubs. The adult has a wing- 
spread of about 13 mm and is dull reddish or grayish brown, mottled with darker 
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