Adults are present from late spring until fall. Eggs are de- 
posited either singly or in small groups in bark crevices. Young 
larvae bore directly into twigs, branches, or the trunk and feed 
in-the heartwood. When a larva becomes too large for a twig or 
branch, it vacates it and migrates to a larger one. As the larva 
feeds, it pushes chips, matted excrement, and frass to the outside 
through the entrance hole. Pupation takes place within the 
tunnel, and the life cycle requires 2 years (386). 
The leopard moth may cause considerable damage to its host. 
Damaged twigs wilt and break off; small branches break and 
hang down; larger branches are girdled (fig. 155) and may break 
in the wind; and small seedlings are killed. Ugly scars appear on 
the trunks of large trees where the bark dies and splits over 
wounds. The removal and destruction of infested twigs, branches, 
and heavily infested trees is a recommended control practice. 
Borers in valuable shade trees can be killed by probing their 
tunnels with flexible wires. 
The pecan carpenterworm, Cossula magnifica (Strecker), occurs 
throughout the Southern States. Its hosts are pecan, oak, and 
COURTESY CONN. AGR. EXPT. STA. 
FIGURE 155.—Elm branch nearly severed by 
larvae of the leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina. 
COURTESY CONN. AGR. EXPT. STA. 
FIGURE 154.—Larval tube and lar- 
val feeding damage by the pine 
tube moth, Argyrotaenia pina- 
tubana. 
387 
