Gelechiid moth
- Scientific name: Chionodes continuella (Zeller)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Gelechiidae
Distribution
- British Columbia
- Ontario
Damage, symptoms and biology
Chionodes continuella is a rather uncommon innocuous solitary defoliator.Mature larva up to 12 mm long. Head and thoracic shield black. Body, rusty brown; cream coloured middorsal stripe, irregular cream coloured markings in spiracular area; dorsum of each abdominal segment marked with two pairs of dark centred cream spots.
This species appears to overwinter in the egg stage. Larvae are present from June to July, pupation occurs in mid-July and adults emerge in late July.
Canadian Forest Service Publications
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)
Chionodes continuella is restricted to spruce including Engelmann spruce and white spruce.Main host(s)
- Engelmann spruce
- Garry oak
- Red oak
- Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir
- Scots pine
- Trembling aspen
- White spruce
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