Foliage

Needleminers Family:

Hosts and Distribution--Varies according to species of . See Table 10.

Table 10. Common species of needleminers in interior northwest forests.

Insect Host Distribution Pinyon needleminer Singleleaf pinyon Utah, Nevada, and Coleotechnites sp. and pinyon pines Wyoming Throughout region; Lodgepole pine, Lodgepole needleminer C.milleri-southern, (Busck) rarely ponderosa C. starki- northern C. starki (Freeman) pine part of range Ponderosa needleminer Throughout region; Coleotechnites moreonella Ponderosa pine locally heavy (Heinrich) populations Spruce needleminer Engelmann spruce Endothenia albolineana and Colorado blue Throughout region (Kearfott) spruce Hemlock needleminer Mountain hemlock Utah Epinotia tsugana (Freeman)

Damage-- Outbreaks are uncommon but can last several years. Moderate growth loss may result but mortality seldom results.

Identification-- Mined needles are partly or entirely buff to reddish-brown with the discolored portion hollow inside where the larva has mined. Hollow needles contain granular frass and have evidence of circular entrance and exit holes. Fine webbing may be in evidence between needles. Larvae are solitary, occurring one per needle. They are small, naked, with a dark head (fig. 202). Adults are mottled brown or gray with fringed hind wings. Both larvae and adults are less than one-half inch. One- or two-year life cycles are common. Needleminers overwinter as pupae in the mined needles or as larvae in hibernacula (nests) of webbed needles and frass.

Similar damages-- Needle diseases cause similar discoloration. Defoliating weevils cause puncture holes and discoloration. Neither of these produce hollow needles.

References-- See full guide.

Figure 202. Late instar lodgepole needleminer larva. This species darkens with each molt.

128 Identification Keys

Figure 2. Comparison of three common types of defoliating insect larvae.

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