Argyrotaenia dorsalana (Dyar)

• Scientific name: Argyrotaenia dorsalana (Dyar)
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Tortricidae

Distribution

• British Columbia

This species occurs on the south coast and in the southern interior of British Columbia south of 51⁰ latitude; it also extends to California and Utah.

Damage, symptoms and biology

Argyrotaenia dorsalana is a common innocuous solitary defoliator.

Mature larva up to 17 mm long. Head, yellowish green with black triangular lateral marking. Body, yellowish green, dark green middorsal pin stripe; dorsum of each abdominal segment marked with two pairs of faint yellow spots.

This species appears to overwinter in the egg stage. Larvae are present from early May to mid-June; pupation occurs in late June and adults emerge soon after.

Canadian Forest Service Publications

Argyrotaenia dorsalana (Dyar)

Diet and feeding behaviour

• Phyllophagous: Feeds on the leaves of plants.
  • Free-living defoliator: Feeds on and moves about freely on foliage.

Information on host(s)

The principal host of Argyrotaenia dorsalana is Douglas-fir; other hosts include western hemlock and western redcedar.

Main host(s)

• Douglas-fir
• Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir
• Western hemlock
• Western larch

Secondary host(s)

• Grand fir
• Ponderosa pine
• Spruces

Photos

Dion Manastyrski Centre de foresterie du Pacifique, Victoria (Colombie-Britannique) / Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, British Columbia

Dion Manastyrski Centre de foresterie du Pacifique, Victoria (Colombie-Britannique) / Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, British Columbia