Argyresthia thuiella (Packard, 1871)
Thuja occidentalis © Thérèse Arcand, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service
© John A. Weidhass, Bugwood.org
mine
The egg is deposited not far from the tip of a shoot, usually at the underside. The larva mines one leaf after the other, working in the direction of the base of the twig. After hibernation the larva mines some hundred leaves more (up to five leaves can be dispatched daily). Most frass is ejected by 1 to three openings in the mine (after service they are closed with silk). Pupation is within the mine in Soft cocoon. The mined twig containing the pupa generally drops to the ground (Silver, 1957b; van Frankenhuyzen, 1974b).
host plants
Cupressaceae, oligophagous
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana; Cupressus; Thuja occidentalis, plicata.
phenology
Larvae from mid-July to end of May. Hibernation in a light spinning in the mine.
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2010).
NE recorded since 1971 (van Frankenhuyzen & Houtman, 1972a; van Frankenhuyzen, 1974a)
LUX not recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).
distribution within Europe
From Germany and Poland to the Alps and Hungary (Fauna Europaea, 2010). Originally a North American species.
larva
The body is greenish to brown; head, prothoracic and anal plates are dark brown to black. See also Konečná (2013a), Konečná & Šefrová (2014a) for a detailed description.
pupa
Abdomen characteristically curved; cremaster with 10 hooks (Silver, 1957a; Patočka, 1999b; Patočka & Turčáni, 2005a).
parasitoids, predators
notes
Sometimes a pest in gardens.
references
Agassiz (2004a), Baran (2008a), Burger ao (1984a), Burmann (1989a), Csóka (2001a, 2003a), van Frankenhuyzen (1974b), van Frankenhuyzen & Houtman (1972a), van Frankenhuyzen Houtman & Kabos (1982a), Freeman (1967a), Gebiola, Bernardo, Ribes & Gibson (2015a), Kirichenko, Augustin & Kenis (2018a), Kollár (2007a), Kollár & Hrubík (2009a), Konečná (2013a), Konečná & Šefrová (2014a), Kurir (1983a), Matošević, Pernek, Dubravac & Barić (2009a), Patočka (1999b), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), Plate & Köllner (1977a), De Prins (1998a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a), Sefrová (2005a), Silver (1957a, b), Stigter & van Frankenhuyzen (1992a).