Eastern pine shoot borer

Eucosma gloriola Heinrich (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Orientation to pest

Eastern shoot borer, Eucosma gloriola Heinrich, is a tortricid moth, native to North America, whose larvae attack shoots of various native or introduced pines. Larvae tunnel in new shoots, killing them. The shape of the tree's main trunk becomes deformed when the terminal leader is killed. This moth is more common in plantations and artificially reforested areas than in native forests. In plantations, 7-41% of shoots and up to 10% of terminal leaders may be infested.

Hosts commonly attacked

In North America, this moth attacks various native or introduced pines, including eastern white (Pinus strobus L.), jack (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), red (Pinus resinosa Sol. ex Aiton), Austrian (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold), mugho (Pinus mugo Turra), and Scots (Pinus sylvestris L.) pines.

Distribution

In North America, this moth is found from the northeastern United States west to the Great Lakes states, as well as in southern Canada.

Images of eastern pine shoot borer

Tom Murray 560x560	Louis Wilson, USDA Forest Service 170x252	Louis Wilson, USDA Forest Service 171x257
Figure 1. Adult of eastern pine shoot borer, Eucosma gloriola	Figure 2. Larva of eastern pine shoot borer	Figure 3. Exit hole in leader of mature larvae of eastern pine shoot borer

A. Steven Munson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Archive, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Figure 4. Dead leader (seen as short stub at base of top whorl of branches) caused by eastern pine shoot borer	Figure 5. Deformity of main trunk of pine caused by eastern pine shoot borer

Important biological control agents related to this pest species

Five species of natural enemies of this borer have been recorded in surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, Ontario, and Manitoba: Glypta sp., Rhorus sp. (both ichneumonids), Bracon rhyacioniae (Muesebeck) (Braconidae), Elachertus cidariae Ashmead (Eulophidae), and Habrocytus sp. (Pteromalidae). Of these, Glypta sp. (perhaps Glypta eucosmae Walley and Baron) may be the most important. Why this insect, which causes little damage in forests, becomes damaging in plantations is not understood.

Web links for information on eastern pine shoot borer

• Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet 134 | USDA Forest Service
• Christmas Tree Fact Sheet | Pennsylvania State University Extension

Articles

• Drooz, A. T. 1960. White pine shoot borer (Eucosma gloriola Heinrich). Journal of Economic Entomology 53: 248-251.
• Newman, J. H. 1968. First records of the white pine shoot borer, Eucosma gloriola (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae), in Michigan. Michigan Entomologist 1:267-270.
• Wong, H. R. and A. E. Campbell. 1967. The larval feeding habits of the eastern pine-shoot borer, Eucosma gloriola Heinrich (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in jack pine regeneration in Michigan. Manitoba Entomologist 1: 42-46.
• DeBoo, R. F., W. L. Sippell, and H. R. Wong. 1971. The eastern pine-shoot borer, Eucosma gloriola (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in North America. The Canadian Entomologist 103:1473-1486.