Orange Larch Tubemaker(Coleotechnites laricis)

From Bugwoodwiki

orange larch tubemaker Photo by Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Archive, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Bugwood.org Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Hexapoda (including Insecta) Order: Lepidoptera Family: Gelechiidae Genus: Coleotechnites Species: laricis Scientific Name Coleotechnites laricis (Freeman)

Contents 1 Description 2 Food 3 Life Cycle 4 Comments 5 References

Description

Grayish green body usually with orange blush dorsally, especially at hind margin of segments. Mostly dark brown head, prothoracic shield, and anal plate; prothoracic shield with light gray anterior margin; small dark spots on body. Up to 8 mm.

Food

Eastern larch.

Life Cycle

One generation. Partly grown caterpillar overwinters on twig. Mature caterpillar present in June and July.

Comments

After hatching, the young caterpillar mines leaves. In fall, it constructs a shelter of needles and frass along a twig. After spending the winter in its shelter, the caterpillar resumes feeding while it lives in a tube that is composed of needles tied together with silk. Finally, it changes to a pupa within the tube.

References

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.