Dioryctria mendacella

Description

Dioryctria mendacella is a species of snout moth in the genus Dioryctria. It was described by Staudinger in 1859, and is known from the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, France and Croatia, Greece and Cyprus. The wingspan is 28–31 mm. The larvae feed within the cones of Pinus species, causing them to disintegrate before reaching maturity and thereby preventing seed production.