About Dioryctria abietella (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775
Dioryctria abietella is a moth species belonging to the family Pyralidae. It is found in Europe. The species has a wingspan of 27 to 33 mm. Its forewings are fuscous, speckled with whitish and dark fuscous. The first and second lines on the forewings are whitish, dark-edged, waved, nearly parallel, and barely oblique. Two darker shaded areas sit just before and just beyond the first line, and do not reach the costa. There is a small whitish discal spot, with diffusely darker edges. Male hindwings are whitish-fuscous, while female hindwings are light fuscous and darker towards the terminal end. Mature larvae are dark grey or reddish-brown, with a double pale dorsal line, and pale lateral and spiracular lines. The larval head and the plate on the second segment are dark brown. Larvae develop within the shoots of Pinus sylvestris, and do not cause resinous exudation. Adult moths produce one generation per year, flying from the end of May through September. The caterpillars feed on pine and other conifers.
