Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745
Taniva albolineana
This record describes Taniva albolineana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See Kearfott, 1907, in Works Cited below for original description Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Taniva
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Absent from the southwestern states but otherwise widespread throughout the United States and Canada. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are spruce ( Picea ) and fir ( Abies ).
Life History
Eggs are deposited so they overlap in a single row on the underside of needles in groups of 2-12 eggs. Young larvae are gregarious, boring into the base of needles and hollowing them out. Shortly after beginning to feed, the larvae construct nests of dead needles and frass held together by silk strands. As they develop, they enlarge this nest. Pupation takes place in silken cocoons within the nests. ( 4 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is Latin meaning "white-lined," for the "several sordid white transverse lines" on the forewings.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Taniva albolineana. 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 Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Nanz; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745
What is Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745?
Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745 (Taniva albolineana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745?
Wingspan 11-15 mm. ,
How do you identify Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745?
See Kearfott, 1907, in Works Cited below for original description Genitalia:
Where is Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745 found?
Range: Absent from the southwestern states but otherwise widespread throughout the United States and Canada. ( 3 )
What does Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745 eat?
The diet of the Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745 includes Larval hosts are spruce ( Picea ) and fir ( Abies )..
What is the life cycle of a Spruce Needleminer Moth - Hodges#2745?
Eggs are deposited so they overlap in a single row on the underside of needles in groups of 2-12 eggs. Young larvae are gregarious, boring into the base of needles and hollowing them out. Shortly after beginning to feed, the larvae construct nests of dead needles and frass held together by silk strands. As they develop, they enlarge this nest. Pupation takes place in silken cocoons within the nests. ( 4 )