Hosts: Douglas-fir and white fir

Symptoms/Signs: Larvae feed on the foliage often stripping its host of needles. The immature stages of this insect have not been described. The forewings of the adults are light gray overlain with grayish-brown and brownish-black scales.

Biology: Little is known about the biology of this insect. Outbreaks of this occasional pest occurred in 1924, 1928, 1951, 1958, 1974, 1977, and 2002 in New Mexico, the only state in which this insect is known to occur.

Effects: This insect can cause heavy defoliation of Douglas-fir and white fir resulting in growth loss and top-kill. Several years of heavy defoliation can result in high levels of tree mortality.

References: 23