Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Fir Needle Inchworm (Eupithecia lariciata)

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. Slender, yellowish brown body marked with mostly purplish stripes, middorsal one usually expanded into triangles; variable amount of purple on body. Grayish yellow head with darkly marked lobes. Middorsal stripe expanded into triangle on some segments and joined to band around A1 to A5 or A6; subdorsal stripe of varying distinctness. Broken spiracular stripe; brownish subspiracular stripe; anal plate trimmed with light yellow. Up to 14 mm.

Food. Balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern larch, spruces, and rarely other conifers.

Life Cycle. One generation. Pupa overwinters in soil or debris. Mature caterpillar present from June to October.

Comments. The fir needle inchworm, which also is called the larch pug, is a Holarctic species that occurs in Eurasia and across North America. In Europe, it eats mainly larch. Because the fir needle inchworm is so variable in color and apparently has mature caterpillars over a period of 5 months, it deserves additional study to determine if it represents just one species. In North America, it previously was known as Eupithecia luteata.

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