140 MISC. PUBLICATION 273, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Two years are required to complete the life cycle, and both winters 

 are passed by the larvae in their galleries. When mature the 

 larvae transform to pupae within the pitch mass, and just prior to 

 emergence the pupae push their way partially out so as to permit 

 the moths to emerge without coming in contact with the pitch mass. 



The Douglas fir pitch moth {Aegeria novaroensis Hy. Edw.) (5) 

 attacks Douglas fir throughout the range of this tree and has also 

 been recorded from weakened larch. As in the case of the sequoia 

 pitch moth, its economic importance lies primarily in the subsequent 

 lumber defects. 



The adults are clear-winged moths with a wing expanse of li/4 

 inches. They have spots of orange red on the thorax and bands of 

 the same color on all the body segments except the last. The males 

 are distinctly smaller than the females. The larvae are slender 

 white caterpillars with brown heads, and when full grown range 

 in length from 1 to li/^ inches. The larval skin is quite transparent, 

 and in this respect the larvae differ from those of the sequoia pitch 

 moth. 



Brunner reports the appearance of the adults during the latter 

 part of May and in June. The habits are comparable to those of 

 the sequoia pitch moth, except that 4 years are required for develop- 

 ment. Winters are passed by the larvae in their galleries, Avhich are 

 covered with large accumulations of pitch. 



The spruce pitch moth {Parharmonla piceae Dyar) is a shining 

 black species with a red spot on the under side of the abdomen. The 

 caterpillars work in Sitka spruce along the coast of Oregon and 

 Washington. 



There are many other species of clear-winged pitch moths that 

 work in various coniferous and broadleaved forest trees, though 

 they are rarely found and are of little economic importance. Some 

 of the species of the famih^ Pyralidae, or snout moths, work in the 

 inner bark of various coniferous trees, causing a heavy exudation 

 of pitch, and cause injury very similar to that of the clear- winged 

 moths. Most of these do more serious damage to young trees than 

 to older ones and therefore were discussed in the section dealing 

 with younger trees (p. 37). 



Many species of clearwing moths or pitch moths belonging to the 

 family Aegeriidae work in the inner bark and bore into the wood 

 of various forest trees. An exceptionally large number of these 

 work in the wood of broadleaved trees and at times so riddle the 

 interior that the limb or tree dies or is broken off by the wind, 

 and the products derived from the wood show serious injuries. The 

 adults of this group are very pretty moths with clear wings, and 

 resemble hornets. The caterpillars are naked or have only a few 

 prominent hairs. There are so many species that are seldom seen 

 by the forester that no attempt will be made to list the western 

 species here. The alder borer {Aegeria americana Beut.) is some- 

 times found working in alder. The locust clearwing {Paranthrene 

 Tohiniae Hy. Edw.) is sometimes very injurious to locust and poplar. 

 The Cottonwood crown borer {Aegeria tihialis Harr.) infests poplar* 

 and willow, as does also A. pacifica Hy. Edw. and Alcathoe api- 

 formis Clerck. Aegeria meUinipennis Bdv. attacks sycamore and 

 oak in California. 



