Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832
Coleotechnites thujaella
This record describes Coleotechnites thujaella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
NJ to New Brunswick and westward to Saskatchewan
Seasonal Activity
late June to early August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Arborvitae
Life History
Eggs are deposited between scale-like leaves on growing tips. The larvae bore into the tips and mine the twigs, causing the foliage to turn brown. Overwinter as larvae in the mine. One generation per year.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Coleotechnites thujaella. 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 Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832
How big is Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832?
Adult wingspan is 9mm
Where is Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832 found?
Range: NJ to New Brunswick and westward to Saskatchewan
What does Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832 eat?
The diet of the Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832 includes Arborvitae.
When is Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832 active?
Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832: seasonal activity - late June to early August.
What is the life cycle of a Coleotechnites thujaella - Hodges#1832?
Eggs are deposited between scale-like leaves on growing tips. The larvae bore into the tips and mine the twigs, causing the foliage to turn brown. Overwinter as larvae in the mine. One generation per year.