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Wingspan: 9.5-11.0 mm. Lacking raised scales. Forewing primarily brown with contrasting white dentate bands and discocellular spot. Male genitalia: Uncus not constricted. Valve with prominent apical projection and reduced accessory spine. Vesica with many small cornutii and lacking a large cornutus. Similar to D. abietivorella though primarily brown with a more dentate postmedial band. Subbasal area with prominent orange patch lacking in D. abietivorella. Morphologically nearly identical to Dioryctria pseudotsugella. Minor variations in transverse band dentation and coloration have been used to separate the species (Mutuura and Munroe 1973; Neunzig 2004), though intermediate specimens are present in regions of overlap. Larval host records are also used for identification though host overlap also occurs. Accurate separation of D.pseudotsugella and D. reniculelloides specimens is difficult (Sopow et al. 1996).

Adults fly July - August and lay eggs on host. Eggs hatch prior to witnter and first instar larvae overwinters without feeding (Mutuura and Munroe). Larvae feed primarily on cones when abundant, though switch to feeding on needles and shoots when scarce (McLeod and Daviault 1963). Larvae pupate in late June - early July.