Larch shoot moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larch shoot moth |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Argyresthia
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| Species: |
laricella
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The larch shoot moth (scientific name: Argyresthia laricella) is a small moth that belongs to a family of moths called Yponomeutidae. William D. Kearfott first described this species in 1908.
Contents
About the Larch Shoot Moth
The larch shoot moth is a tiny insect. Its wingspan is about 11 to 12 millimeters, which is roughly half an inch.
What Does It Look Like?
The front wings of this moth are very light and shiny, with a pale yellowish-brown color. They usually don't have many markings. The back wings are a lighter, whitish-yellow color.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the larch shoot moth in Canada. It lives in many parts of the country, including north-western Ontario, Nova Scotia, south-eastern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, western Alberta, and southern British Columbia.
Life Cycle and Habits
Adult larch shoot moths are usually seen flying from late June to mid-July.
The young moths, called larvae (which are like caterpillars), eat different types of larch trees (Larix species). This includes European larch (L. decidua), Japanese larch (L. kaempferi), American larch (L. laricina), and western larch (L. occidentalis). They also feed on white spruce trees (Picea glauca).
When the larvae are young, they dig into the tips of the tree branches. This can cause the twigs to die and stop growing. In the fall, the larvae make a round hole at the bottom of the twig. This is where they change into a pupa (a resting stage before becoming an adult moth).
