62 MISC. PUBLICATION 273, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
MOST IMPORTANT PINE DEFOLIATORS 
The pine butterfly (Veophasia menapia Feld.) (31) is potentially 
one of the most dangerous enemies of ponderosa pine in the North- 
western States. One of the earliest recorded outbreaks occurred near 
Spokane, Wash., in 1882. Since that date several outbreaks have 
developed in the ponderosa pine stands of Oregon, Washington, 
Idaho, and British Columbia. One of the worst of these occurred 
on the Yakima In- 
dian Reservation in 
Washington during 
the period 1893-95. 
Ponderosa pine over 
approximately 150,- 
000 acres was af- 
fected and from 20 to 
90 percent of the 
stand killed over this 
largearea. The total 
loss amounted to 
nearly a billion 
board feet, and the 
effects of this out- 
break are still evi- 
dent. A more recent 
outbreak severely de- 
foliated thousands of 
acres of ponderosa 
pine along the Little 
Salmon and Payette 
Rivers in Idaho in 
1922 and 1923. Old, 
mature ponderosa 
pines are more sus- 
ceptible to injury 
than the younger, 
thriftier trees. West- 
ern white pine and 
lodgepole pine, when 
FicURE 27.—The pine butterfly (Neophasia menapia) : Eggs, 1 mixture with pon- 
eS pupae, ae ae male above, female below. derosa pine, are also 
attacked, and Doug- 
las fir is reported to have been injured in outbreaks of the pine 
butterfly along the coast of British Columbia. 
The adult (fig. 27) is a white butterfly with black markings and 
a wing expanse of about 184 inches, resembling in general the 
common cabbage butterfly. The wings of the male are pure white 
except for some black markings on the tips. The forewings of the 
female have similar black markings, but have a distinct yellowish 
cast; the hind wings have the same yellowish cast but have a much 
heavier black marking than in the male. With many females, but 
not all, there are bright orange spots along the apical margin of the 
hind wings. These butterflies may be seen nearly every year flying 
about in pine and fir forests and hovering about the tops of trees. 
