Synanthedon sequoiae
Encyclopedia
The Sequoia Pitch Moth (Synanthedon sequoiae) is a moth
of the Sesiidae
family. It is found from California
north to British Columbia
.
The wingspan
is 20-27 mm. Adults are on wing from May to early September.
The larvae feed on various conifer species, including Douglas fir, pines and spruces. The larvae are dirty white, grayish or pink. They excavate a shallow cavity that penetrates the inner bark to the cambium surface of the wood. Pupation takes place in a dark brown pupa that is made in a silk-lined chamber within the pitch mass. Most individuals require two years to develop from egg to adult.
The main effect of larval feeding is the production of large amounts of resin by the infected plants. Larval feeding sometimes causes one or more limbs to die or become weak enough to break, especially if infested trees are young.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Sesiidae
Sesiidae
The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are family of the Lepidoptera in which the wings partially have hardly any of the normal lepidopteran scales, leaving them transparent. The bodies are generally striped with yellow, red or white, sometimes very brightly, and they have simple antennae...
family. It is found from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
north to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 20-27 mm. Adults are on wing from May to early September.
The larvae feed on various conifer species, including Douglas fir, pines and spruces. The larvae are dirty white, grayish or pink. They excavate a shallow cavity that penetrates the inner bark to the cambium surface of the wood. Pupation takes place in a dark brown pupa that is made in a silk-lined chamber within the pitch mass. Most individuals require two years to develop from egg to adult.
The main effect of larval feeding is the production of large amounts of resin by the infected plants. Larval feeding sometimes causes one or more limbs to die or become weak enough to break, especially if infested trees are young.