Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Green Needleworm (Clepsis persicana)

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. Grayish green body with gray middorsal and subdorsal stripes. Yellowish green head with dark brown spot near stemmata and with small, horizontal dark line behind stemmata. Middorsal and subdorsal stripes sometimes indistinct. Up to 17 mm.

Food. Many trees, occasionally including balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern larch, and spruces.

Life Cycle. One generation. Partly grown caterpillar probably overwinters in debris on ground. Mature caterpillar present in May and June.

Comments. In the past, the green needleworm was a minor pest of deciduous fruit trees that received few or no insecticidal applications.

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