Pinus sylvestris, Gortelsche Berg: egg on the tip of a needle

mine

The mine begins in the tip of a needle, and descends to about three quarter of its length. With exception of the larval chamber the entire mine is filled with frass, giving the needle a vinous colour. The mine is so transparant the the larva is visible in its chamber (Hering, 1957a). The full grown larva leaves the mine by making an opening, then forms an elongate cocoon out of silk between a few spun needles (Koch, 1932a; Freeman, 1960a).

host plants

Pinaceae, monophagous

Pinus cembra, mugo, sylvestris.

According to Hering (1957a) the species also lives on Juniperus albeit rarely. In the light of the strongly different leaf morphology this seems improbable. Also references to Abies alba and Picea abies seem doubtful.

phenology

Larvae in April – May (Agassiz, 1996a), adults from June till August (Koster, 1990a).

BENELUX

BE recorded (Phegea, 2010).

NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2010).

LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

From Fennoscandia to Spain, Italy, and Bulgaria, and from Ireland to Romania (Fauna Europaea, 2010).

larva

pupa

references

Agassiz (1996a), Bengtsson & Johansson (2011a), Buhr (1935b), Duncan (2006a), Freeman (1960a), Gómez de Aizpúrua (1994a, 2003a), Heckford (1986a), Hering (1957a), Huemer (2012a), Huisman, Koster, van Nieukerken & Ulenberg (2004a), Koch (1932a), Koster (1990a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Leutsch (2011a), Parenti & Varalda (2000a), Patočka (1997a, 1999b), Patočka & Turčáni (2005a), De Prins (1998a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sønderup (1949a), Starý (1930a), Szabóky, Tokár, Liska & Pastorális (2009a), Szőcs (1977a), Thomann (1956a), Wegner (2010a), Wörz (1957a), Zoerner (1969a).