Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821
Coleotechnites milleri
This record describes Coleotechnites milleri (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Recurvaria milleri Busck is available online in the print references below. Forewing is pale gray with fine short black streaks. Considered a very destructive pest of lodgepole pine and has been a major problem in Yosemite National Park.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Litini
- Genus
- Coleotechnites
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western United States and Canada. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight is from April to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon. (Busck)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Coleotechnites milleri. 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 Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821
What is Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821?
Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821 (Coleotechnites milleri) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821?
Forewing length 5.5-6.5 mm. , (Busck)
How do you identify Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821?
The original description as Recurvaria milleri Busck is available online in the print references below. Forewing is pale gray with fine short black streaks.
Where is Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821 found?
Range: Western United States and Canada. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821 eat?
The diet of the Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821 includes Larvae feed on lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon. (Busck).
When is Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821 active?
Lodgepole Needleminer - Hodges#1821: seasonal activity - The main flight is from April to August..