Archips alberta

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Archips alberta (McDunnough) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 11–14 mm

Head and thorax pale brown to pale dull pink; forewing with ground color gray brown, sometimes heavily suffused with dull pink scaling; basal, median, and terminal fasciae brown, bordered with distinct black lines; male with forewing costal fold; hindwing white to pale brown, distinct strigulae present.

Male genitalia characterized by broad, somewhat triangular valvae; a moderate, finger-like uncus, and a pistol-shaped phallus, which is somewhat hooked apically in some specimens. Female genitalia characterized by sterigma with well-developed posterior lobes; a long, membranous ductus bursae; and corpus bursae with a long, well-developed signum.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Mature larva at least 15 mm in length; width of head 1.1–1.7 mm; head reddish brown, black laterally; prothoracic shield, legs brown; body, anal shield green; anal fork moderately developed; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 numbering 3:3:3:2:2. 

A detailed description of larval chaetotaxy is available in MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..

Similar Species

Archips alberta is most similar to A. tsuganus (Powell), an uncommonly encountered species, which also feeds on hemlock (Tsuga spp.). Adults of A. tsuganus possess forewings with less distinct banding. Male genitalia of A. tsuganus have a larger dorsal projection on the terminal portion of the sacculus than in A. alberta.

Distribution

Archips alberta is distributed across much of the northern United States and Canada, from Newfoundland and Maine west to British Columbia and Alaska, south to northern Minnesota and the upper peninsula of Michigan. Rare, isolated records exist for California, Utah, and Colorado.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Duncan (2006)Duncan (2006):
Duncan, R. W. 2006. Conifer defoliators of British Columbia. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, British Columbia. 359 pp..

Young larvae mine the needles of various species of Pinaceae, including hemlock (Tsuga spp.), fir (Abies spp.), larch (Larix spp.), and spruce (Picea spp.) and web the needles together. Older larvae feed externally on webbed needles and cones. Larvae overwinter as first instars. Pupation occurs in the nest of webbed needles. Most adults have been recorded in July and August, suggesting a single generation per year.

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and distribution map in North America available at Moth Photographers Group.