« Back

Coleotechnites piceaella

Orange spruce needleminer

Description

The adult has a wingspan of about 10–11 mm. Females oviposit in July. The larvae bore feeding tunnels inside the needles. On the infested needle round exit holes are found, visible even with the naked eye. During the vegetation period the larvae hollow out a number of needles, using one as a shelter for winter dormancy. The needles are fixed together with fine silk. Partly grown larvae overwinter in the mined needles. Larvae pupate in June. Has one generation per year. A typical symptom of infestation is rusty discolouration of needles in circumference of the spruce canopy. Causes serious damage in orchards and on solitary trees in urban areas. It is an introduced species in Europe and was first recorded in Great Britain in 1952, then in Germany in 1963 and has expanded to entire Europe.

Symptom

Needles spun and attached to a twig. A small hole in each damaged needle.

Tree Species: Spruce

Part of a plant- attacked: Leaf / Needle

Pest significance: Harmful

Pest Category: Insects

Invasive Species: Yes

Present in EU: Yes

Seasonal frequency of occurrence

Seasonal frequency of occurrence