Argyresthia thuiella (Packard, 1871)

Argyresthia thuiella damage

Thuja occidentalis © Thérèse Arcand, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service

Argyresthia thuiella larva

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 & Turčáni, 2005a).

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), Kirichenko, Augustin & Kenis (2018a), Kollár (2007a), Kollár & Hrubík (2009a), Konečná (2013a), Konečná & Šefrová (2014a), Kurir (1983a), Matošević, Pernek, Dubravac & Barić (2009a), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), De Prins (1998a), De Prins & Steeman (2011a), Sefrová (2005a), Silver (1957a, b), Stigter & van Frankenhuyzen (1992a).