Morphology of Epinotia piceae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and Porygraphus proximus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) that caused mass mortality of Abies mariesii in the Zao mountains, northern Japan

Abstract

Morphology of Epinotia piceae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a defoliator causing mass mortality in Abies mariesii, a native fir in the Zao mountains, northern Japan was comprehensively reviewed. Specific morphologies such as thefore wing markings, the tegumen, uncus, socius, henion and valva of male genitalia, and the sterigma and signum of female genitalia characterized adult E. piceae. The larvae were distinguished by a combination of morphological characters on the pinaculum, crochet, anal fork, and subventral setae. Unique larval features in the area include an anal fork and uniordinal crochets on prolegs, which differed from the previous description. The diagnostic characters of the bark beetle, Polygraphus proximus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), which caused additional tree mortality, were presented in photographs. This review will aid non-specialist researchers in determining whether fir and spruce pests belong to these species.