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Argyresthia thuiella Packard
Lepidoptera: Argyresthidae
Univoltine (VII-V.), hosts are Thuja occidentalis (particularly the column-like form) and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. The greyish brown caterpillars mine the terminal shoots of the hosts. They overwinter in the mine. Native to North America and was accidentally introduced from Canada and the USA to Europe in three separate occasions: in 1971 to the Netherlands, in 1975 to Germany and in 1976 to Austria. From these introductions it spread and was later recorded from several other European countries, including Switzerland (1989), Croatia (1991), Czech- and Slovak Republic (1989). The species probably spread into Hungary from neighbouring Croatia. It was first recorded in SW Hungary, in 1997. The species appears to have the ability of causing significant aesthetic and physiological damage on its hosts, two very popular ornamental plants. Symptoms of damage are browning and abscission of the attacked terminal shoots.
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