Pine Tube Moth - Hodges#3602
Argyrotaenia pinatubana
This record describes Argyrotaenia pinatubana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Archipini
- Genus
- Argyrotaenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern United States and southeastern Canada where ever white pine can be found.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae tie together and feed on needles of white pine ( Pinus strobus ).
Life History
See Chambers (1890) in Print References for life history, under Gelechia pinafoliella Chambers, as Kearfott recommends in his original description. The larva lies within the tube it constructs by drawing from 5-20 needles together and fastening them with silk. It feeds on the tips of these needles. ( 3 ) Overwinter as pupa in these tubes. ( 3 ) Can be 2 generations per year. ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific and common names for the tubes of pine needles constructed by the larva.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Argyrotaenia pinatubana. 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 Pine Tube Moth - Hodges#3602 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , anitagould , ceiseman , Randy Hardy , metrioptera , Jason Dombroskie , Marci Hess , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Pine Tube Moth - Hodges#3602
How big is Pine Tube Moth - Hodges#3602?
Wingspan about 12-17 mm.
Where is Pine Tube Moth - Hodges#3602 found?
Range: Eastern United States and southeastern Canada where ever white pine can be found.
What does Pine Tube Moth - Hodges#3602 eat?
The diet of the Pine Tube Moth - Hodges#3602 includes Larvae tie together and feed on needles of white pine ( Pinus strobus )..
What is the life cycle of a Pine Tube Moth - Hodges#3602?
See Chambers (1890) in Print References for life history, under Gelechia pinafoliella Chambers, as Kearfott recommends in his original description. The larva lies within the tube it constructs by drawing from 5-20 needles together and fastening them with silk. It feeds on the tips of these needles. ( 3 ) Overwinter as pupa in these tubes. ( 3 ) Can be 2 generations per year. ( 3 )