Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

European Spruce Needleminer (Epinotia nanana)

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.

Description. Light brown body with dark brown head, prothoracic shield, and thoracic legs. Prothoracic shield with a light brown anterior margin; variably brownish anal plate. Up to 9 mm.

Food. Red, white, and other spruces.

Life Cycle. One generation. Nearly full-grown caterpillar overwinters in mined needle. Mature caterpillar present in May and June.

Comments. In spring, the caterpillar mines needles that it attaches to twigs with silk. Unlike the spruce needleminer, Taniva albolineana, this species usually forms its pupa in a cocoon that is located in the debris beneath the tree. Freeman (1967), Johnson and Lyon (1991), and Rose and Lindquist (1994) have shown examples of its damage. As the common name suggests, this needleminer was introduced from Europe. In North America, its preferred food is the introduced Norway spruce, Picea abies.

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