Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Pine Needle Sheathminer (Zelleria haimbachi)

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. Mostly yellowish green body with rosy brown subdorsal stripe. Yellowish head, prothoracic shield, and anal plate (sometimes with rosy brown tinge). Very broad subdorsal stripe with small, light spots. Up to 14 mm.

Food. Jack and possibly other hard pines.

Life Cycle. One generation. Partly grown caterpillar overwinters in a mined needle. Mature caterpillar present from May to July.

Comments. After hatching, the caterpillar mines the base of a needle within the sheath and removes its frass, which typically is deposited by adjacent sheaths. The older caterpillar makes a feeding web around the bases of the needles where it feeds. Rose et al. (1999) have illustrated the feeding damage of this species.

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