Species Details

Argyrotaenia occultana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameFall Spruce Needle Moth SeasonalityEnd of April to late June. IdentificationThe forewing is light grey with fine dark grey or black reticulations throughout. Broad bands slanted towards the anal angle are prominent in the basal, median and upper postmedian areas. The head and thorax are dark grey and the abdomen and hindwings are light grey. The larva is green with a darker green middorsal stripe and with some brown markings on the head (Duncan 2006).

Scientific Name Argyrotaenia occultana Common Name Fall Spruce Needle Moth Habitat Spruce forests. Seasonality End of April to late June. Identification
The forewing is light grey with fine dark grey or black reticulations throughout. Broad bands slanted towards the anal angle are prominent in the basal, median and upper postmedian areas. The head and thorax are…
The forewing is light grey with fine dark grey or black reticulations throughout. Broad bands slanted towards the anal angle are prominent in the basal, median and upper postmedian areas. The head and thorax are dark grey and the abdomen and hindwings are light grey. The larva is green with a darker green middorsal stripe and with some brown markings on the head (Duncan 2006).
Life History Overwintering is done as a pupa and adults emerge from mid May to late July. Larvae are solitary and web the needles of their hosts (Duncan 2006). Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info Most commonly on spruce (Picea spp.), also Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), Tamarack (Larix laricina), and Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)(Duncan 2006; MacKay 1962). Range From British Columbia north to the Yukon and Northwest Territories, east to Newfoundland, and south to Kentucky and Oregon. In Alberta found throughout boreal and mountainous regions.

Citation

Page Citation for Argyrotaenia occultana

Page Citation

"Species Details - Argyrotaenia occultana, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-25155. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Dombroskie, J. J.
Role species page author
Date 2009-04-16

References

Specimen Information

There is 1 specimen of this Species.

1 result plotted on map in 1 marker.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

BIRD28461 - Argyrotaenia occultana

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Crowsnest Pass, Island Lake Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2001-06-29

Adult Seasonal Distribution