140 MISC. PUBLICATION 273, U. 8. 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 emer ge without coming in contact with the pitch mass. 
The Douglas fir pitch moth (Aegerza novaroensis Hy. Edw.) (8) 
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 114 
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 14% 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, which are 
covered with large accumulations of pitch. 
The spruce pitch moth (Parharmonia piceae Dyar) is a shining 
black species with a red spot on the under side of the abdomen, T he 
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 family 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.) 1s some- 
times found working in alder. The locust clearwing (Paranthrene 
robiniae Hy. Edw.) is sometimes very injurious to locust and poplar. 
The cottonwood crown borer (Aegeria tibialis Harr.) infests poplar 
and willow, as does also A. pacifica Hy. Edw. and Alcathoe api- 
formis Clerck. Aegeria mellinipennis Bdvy. attacks sycamore and 
oak in California. 
