Dendrolimus pini (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The caterpillar lives on coniferous species such as Picea abies, Pinus sp. or Larix.

Habitat:
Dendrolimus pini inhabits forests, bogs, parks and gardens and can be found anywhere where conifers grow. But it usually occurs in rather low density and is rarely harmful.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar overwinters semi- to almost fully-grown on or in the soil under moss or litter. I found such a caterpillar rolled in litter at the base of a grass tuft in a spruce forest on the Adelegg (Southern Germany) at 1100m asl in mid November 2012. Pupation takes place between May and early July. The moths fly from June to August. In early autumn (especially September) the larvae can be beaten from spruce or pine. I also found them on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).

Remarks:
Dendrolimus pini occurs from north Africa across Europe to at least Central Asia. In Europe it is missing in the British Isles, Sardinia and Sicily.