Pecan cigar casebearer
Coleophora laticornella (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae)
Orientation to pest
The pecan cigar casebearer, Coleophora laticornella (Clemens), is a case-bearing moth native to North America. It hosts include pecan (Carya illinoinensis [Wangenh] K. Koch), walnut (Juglans), and several species of hickory (Carya). It often causes serious damage to these trees. This insect overwinters as a partially grown larva in a case about 6 mm long that is attached to a limb or twig. In the spring, the larvae resume feeding on the newly opened buds and young foliage and when mature, larvae pupate within their cases. Moths emerge and lay eggs on leaves. Young larvae feed as leafminers, but later construct cases in which they remain as they move about, feeding on leaves and, the following year, buds. After leaf drop, larvae move back onto twigs or limbs, where they attach their cases for overwintering. There may be several generations per year. The pecan cigar casebearer occurs from New England south to Florida and as far west as Texas.
Hosts commonly attacked
Hosts of pecan cigar casebearer include pecan (Carya illinoinensis [Wangenh] K. Koch), walnut (Juglans), and several species of hickory (Carya).
Distribution
This moth is found in the eastern United States, from New England south to Florida and west to Texas.
Images of pecan cigar casebearer
| Figure 1. Adult pecan cigar casebearer, Coleophora laticornella | Figure 2. Larva of pecan cigar casebearer larvae in case |
