Taniva albolineana

Status

NATIVE

DOMESTIC SURVEY

Taxonomy

Taniva albolineana (Kearfott)

Common name: spruce needleminer moth

Synonyms: abietana (Argyroploce), piceae (Olethreutes)

Adult Recognition

FWL: 5.0–7.5 mm

Head, thorax dark brown or gray; forewing with ground color dark brown or black, overlaid with strongly contrasting silver, gray, or silver fasciae; males without a forewing costal fold; hindwing of both sexes brown.

Male genitalia are characterized by a short, bifid uncus and long, slender, sinuous valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a well-developed lamella antevaginalis with long, tongue-shaped posterolateral projections; and a signum present as a weakly expressed scobinate patch.

Larval Morphology

The following account is summarized from MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Mature larva 7 mm in length on average; width of head 0.5 mm on average; head, prothoracic shield, legs yellowish; head elongate, with black pigmentation laterally; anal shield partly yellow; body pale green, pinacula small, concolorous; anal fork absent; SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 variable, most often 3:3:2:2:2, 2:3:2:2:2, or 3:2:3:2:2.

Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in MacKay (1959)MacKay (1959):
MacKay, M. R. 1959. Larvae of the North American Olethreutidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 10: 1-338..

Similar Species

Taniva albolineana is superficially similar to two other spruce-feeding species, Archips packardiana and Epinotia nanana. It can be easily separated from the former by the number of rows of scales per antennal segment (one in T. albolineana, two in A. packardiana). Separating it from E. nanana is more difficult, especially as the feeding damage caused by the two species is virtually identical. The forewing of T. albolineana tends to be less acute at the apex and has more well-defined fasciae. Examination of the genitalia may be necessary for worn individuals. The genitalia of T. albolineana are readily distinguished from both A. packardiana, E. nanana, and all other similar-looking Nearctic tortricids.

Distribution

Taniva albolineana has a transcontinental distribution, occurring broadly in southern Canada and from Maine to North Carolina, Colorado, and Washington in the United States. Records from California require confirmation.

Biology

The following account is summarized from Tashiro (1974)Tashiro (1974):
Tashiro, H. 1974. Biology and control of the spruce needleminer. Journal of Economic Entomology. 67: 89-92..

Slightly overlapping eggs are laid in a single row from the base of a spruce needle (Picea spp.) towards the apex. Between two and twelve eggs are laid per needle, typically in July. Larvae mine individual needles and overwinter in the larval stage, either in the mined needle itself or in nests of silk, frass, and dead needles. Feeding resumes in the spring, with pupation occurring in the silken nest. Adults are active from late May to early August, representing a single generation per year.

Taniva albolineata is not commonly considered a pest species, but it can cause occasional damage to spruce nursery stock. The preferred host appears to be spruce, but it has also been recorded on balsam fir (Abies balsamea).

Plant Associations

View full screen host table here

Links

Additional photos and a distribution map of this species in North America are available at Moth Photographers Group.