Spruce budworm (Western)
Choristoneura freemani
15 host plants
Last updated
Look for brownish or reddish-tinged foliage on true firs in late summer, particularly at higher elevations. The western spruce budworm larvae tie new shoot tips together with webbing, feeding on buds and emerging needles. Most common on Pacific silver fir, grand fir, and white fir. Affected branches and tree crowns take on a scorched appearance by August.
For landscape trees, this is primarily a visual concern. Preserve natural parasitoid populations. Prune lightly infested branch tips in late spring. Natural rainfall and cool temperatures support recovery. No pesticide applications are typically needed for ornamental trees.
Quick Reference
Order
Lepidoptera
Type
defoliator
Host Plants
15
Host Plants (15)
Abies alba European Silver Fir, Common Silver Fir Abies amabilis Pacific Silver Fir Abies balsamea Balsam Fir Abies concolor White Fir, Colorado Fir Abies delavayi Delavay's Fir Abies grandis Grand Fir Abies koreana Korean Fir Abies lasiocarpa Subalpine Fir Rocky Mountain Fir, Alpine Fir Abies magnifica California Red Fir, Red Fir, Slivertip Fir Abies nordmanniana Nordmann Fir, Caucasian Fir Abies numidica Algerian Fir Abies pindrow West Himalayan Fir, Pindrow Fir Abies pinsapo Spanish Fir, Spanish Pin Fir Abies pinsapo subsp. marocana Moroccan Fir Abies procera Noble Fir
Data Maturity Baseline Extension data. Expert review underway.