Needle-miner
Guides
Archips packardiana
spring spruce needle moth, spruce needleworm
Archips packardiana is a tortricid moth whose larvae are specialized feeders on spruce needles. The species overwinters as a tiny larva inside a mined needle, resuming feeding in spring before moving to new foliage. Commonly known as the spring spruce needle moth or spruce needleworm, it occurs throughout most of Canada and the northeastern United States. Despite its common name, populations typically remain at low densities and cause minimal damage to host trees.
Argyresthia
Argents
Argyresthia is a genus of microlepidopteran moths comprising over 200 species, with more than 100 species recognized in the Palearctic region. Adults are exceptionally small, measuring 3.2–6.8 mm from head to wingtip. Most species display white wings with broad, transverse metallic stripes. Larvae are leaf or needle miners, feeding between tissue layers of conifers or broadleaved plants. The genus is the namesake of the family Argyresthiidae, having been elevated from subfamily status within Yponomeutidae.
Argyresthia cupressella
cypress tip moth
Argyresthia cupressella, commonly known as the cypress tip moth, is a small microlepidopteran moth in the family Argyresthiidae. Native to the western coast of North America, it has been introduced to Europe where established populations now occur. The species is recognized as a pest of ornamental and forest conifers due to larval feeding damage.
Batrachedra pinicolella
Pine Cosmet
A small conifer-feeding moth in the family Batrachedridae. Formerly cryptic within a species complex, integrative taxonomic studies using DNA barcoding, nuclear markers, and ddRAD sequencing distinguished it from the newly described B. confusella. It has a boreo-montane distribution pattern and is associated primarily with Norway spruce.
Coleotechnites apicitripunctella
Green Hemlock Needleminer, Hemlock Leaf Miner, Baldcypress Webworm
A small gelechiid moth whose larvae mine needles of eastern hemlock and bald cypress. The species has one generation annually and occurs in eastern North America. Larvae are distinctive with yellowish-green bodies, orange-brown heads, and dark green spots.
Coleotechnites blastovora
Coleotechnites blastovora is a small moth in the family Gelechiidae, described by McLeod in 1962. The species is found across central and western Canada, with records from Quebec, New Brunswick, and the prairie provinces. Its larvae are specialized feeders on conifers in the genera Picea and Abies, where they mine the needles. The species was originally described under the genus Eucordylea before being transferred to Coleotechnites.
Coleotechnites coniferella
Conifer Needleminer
Coleotechnites coniferella is a small gelechiid moth with a wingspan of approximately 9 mm. The species is distributed across North America, with records from California to the northeastern United States and Canada. Larvae are known to feed on Pinus species, earning the common name Conifer Needleminer.
Coleotechnites macleodi
brown hemlock needleminer
A small gelechiid moth known for its specialized relationship with eastern hemlock. The common name refers to its larval habit of mining within hemlock needles. It completes one generation annually in its northern range.
Epinotia meritana
white-fir needle miner
Epinotia meritana is a small tortricid moth whose larvae are specialized miners of fir needles. The species completes one generation annually, with adults active in mid-summer and larvae feeding internally on white fir foliage before overwintering within mined needles. It occurs in western North American conifer forests where its host trees grow.
Epinotia nanana
European spruce needleminer, green spruce leaf miner, green spruce needle miner
Epinotia nanana is a small tortricid moth whose larvae are specialized needle miners of spruce trees. Native to Europe and Asia, it has been introduced to North America where it has become a pest of ornamental and forest spruce. The species has a univoltine life cycle with larvae overwintering in mined needles and completing development the following spring. Larval feeding creates distinctive silken webbing that secures mined needles to twigs.
Exoteleia
Exoteleia is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Wallengren in 1881. Species in this genus are associated with coniferous hosts, particularly pines (Pinus), where larvae function as needle miners and bud feeders. Several species are recognized as economic pests of plantation, ornamental, and Christmas tree pines in North America and Europe. The genus includes at least nine described species distributed across the Holarctic region.
Exoteleia dodecella
pine bud moth
Exoteleia dodecella, commonly known as the pine bud moth, is a small gelechiid moth native to western Eurasia and introduced to North America. Adults are active in mid-summer with a wingspan of 9–15 mm. The species is notable for its larval mining behavior in conifer needles and its association with pine and larch hosts.
Exoteleia pinifoliella
pine needleminer, pine needle miner
Exoteleia pinifoliella is a gelechiid moth commonly known as the pine needleminer. Native to eastern North America, it is a persistent pest of hard pines, with larvae that mine within needles. The species exhibits strong site fidelity, with moths returning to the same trees to oviposit year after year, resulting in patchy, localized infestations in forest stands. It completes one generation annually.
Lambdina pellucidaria
pitch pine looper, eastern pine looper, yellow-headed looper, yellow-headed looper moth
Lambdina pellucidaria is a geometrid moth found in eastern North America, commonly known as the pitch pine looper or yellow-headed looper. The species is associated with pine habitats and has been documented feeding on pitch pine, red pine, and other hard pines, as well as oak. Adults are active from March to June with regional variation, and exhibit nocturnal pheromone-mediated mating activity between midnight and 3 AM. Larvae are distinctive loopers that mine needles rather than consuming them completely, a trait that aids in identification.
Recurvaria
Recurvaria is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Haworth in 1828. The genus contains approximately 40 described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Several species are economically significant as pests of coniferous trees and pistachio, with larvae that mine needles or feed internally within fruits. The genus exhibits diverse life history strategies, including univoltine and bivoltine cycles, with some species requiring two years to complete development.
Taniva albolineana
Spruce Needleminer Moth
Taniva albolineana is a monotypic tortricid moth endemic to North America, commonly known as the spruce needleminer moth. The species is specialized on spruce (Picea spp.) as its host plant, with larvae mining within needles. It is the sole member of the genus Taniva. The moth is primarily documented from the Canadian prairie provinces and adjacent regions.