Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667
Archips packardiana
This record describes Archips packardiana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing with blotchy pattern of black and white (or pale gray) patches; pale areas have diffuse dark lines running through them; hindwing dark gray with white fringe.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Archipini
- Genus
- Archips
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Northern United States and southern Canada. Type locality: Peaks Island, Casco Bay, Maine (A.S. Packard, bred from larvae on fir).
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly almost exclusively late June through July. ,
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is primarily spruce (90% of Forest Insect Surveys) , but also recorded on fir, tamarack, larch, pine and hemlock.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Alpheus Spring Packard Jr. (1839–1905), as "recognition of his extensive and valuable work on North American insects."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Archips packardiana. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Jason Dombroskie , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667
What is Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667?
Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667 (Archips packardiana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan about 17 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 7.5-9.5 mm. |
How do you identify Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667?
Adult - forewing with blotchy pattern of black and white (or pale gray) patches; pale areas have diffuse dark lines running through them; hindwing dark gray with white fringe.
Where is Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667 found?
Range: Northern United States and southern Canada. Type locality: Peaks Island, Casco Bay, Maine (A.S. Packard, bred from larvae on fir).
What does Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667 eat?
The diet of the Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667 includes Larval host is primarily spruce (90% of Forest Insect Surveys) , but also recorded on fir, tamarack, larch, pine and hemlock..
When is Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667 active?
Spring Spruce Needle Moth - Hodges#3667: seasonal activity - Adults fly almost exclusively late June through July. ,.