Roughly thirty species of coneworm (Pyralidae: Diorcytria) are found throughout North America and the majority are important forest pests. Diorcytria attack all species of conifers, causing damage, which ranges from branch damage and deformation to significant seed loss. These species also display a wide range of morphological variation making identification, and ultimately control, difficult. Work to identify these species as been conducted in northwestern seed orchards where heavy infestations have resulted in significant reductions in seed cone production. A 475 bp fragment of mitochondrial DNA in the COI gene was compared across several hundred specimens, and by comparing molecular differences to morphology, larval host and pheromone blend, seven species from four genetic lineages were identified. Of these species, only one, Diorcytria abietivorella, was responsible for the majority of seed loss in the orchards, while the other species exist in low population numbers and specialize on different areas on the conifer host. The use of molecular methods to elucidate the taxonomy of Diorcytria, enabled identification of species in a morphologically complex group of pests, identifying the significant pest in the suite of species present in the region. Improvements in pheromone accuracy will result from the clarification of the taxonomy of Diorcytria, permitting monitoring, and possibly mating disruption to be implemented, allowing control of this forest pest.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Dioryctria abietivorella (fir coneworm)
Species 2: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Dioryctria reniculelloides (spruce coneworm)
Species 3: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Dioryctria baumhoferi
Keywords: taxonomy, phylogenetics
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