Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Eastern Blackheaded Budworm (Acleris variana)

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.

Description. Greenish body with darkly marked head and prothoracic shield. Orange-brown head with two dark brown marks on each lobe. Greenish brown prothoracic shield with dark brown border laterally and posteriorly. Up to 15 mm.

Food. Balsam fir, eastern hemlock, and spruces.

Life Cycle. One generation. Egg overwinters on live needle. Mature caterpillar present from May to July.

Comments. Despite the common name of this caterpillar, neither the head nor the prothoracic shield is black, but mainly greenish, reddish, or dark brown. The form with a dark brown head and prothoracic shield is common in northern areas. When the caterpillar approaches maturity, it lives in a shelter of webbed needles on the new shoots. During outbreaks, this species noticeably injures foliage.

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