Spruce Budworm vs Bee Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spruce Budworm Bee Moth
Scientific Name Choristoneura fumiferana Aphomia sociella
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Tortricidae Crambidae
Size 20-28 mm wingspan 30-42 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Parasites
Regions North America Europe, Asia, North America (introduced)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Spruce Budworm

A small mottled grey-brown moth that is the most destructive forest pest in North America. Outbreaks can kill millions of hectares of spruce and fir forest.

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Did You Know?

A single outbreak in the 1970s-80s damaged more timber than all forest fires in Canada combined.

Bee Moth

A robust pinkish-brown moth whose larvae are nest parasites of bumblebees and wasps. Females enter bee nests at night to lay their eggs.

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Did You Know?

A single larval web can contain hundreds of caterpillars that completely destroy a bumblebee nest.