Epinotia pygmaeana, the pygmy needle tortricid, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found across the Palearctic from northern and central Europe to eastern Russia.

Epinotia pygmaeana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tortricidae
Genus: Epinotia
Species:
E. pygmaeana
Binomial name
Epinotia pygmaeana
(Hübner, [1799])

The wingspan is 12–14 mm.The forewings are fuscous, whitish-sprinkled, costa spotted with dark fuscous ; basal patch with edge sharply angulated, and central fascia darker, space between them forming a subquadrate more whitish dorsal spot; ocellus large, broadly edged with leaden-metallic. Hindwings are white ; apical third fuscous, darker terminally.The larva is green ; spots black ; head and plate of 2 black.[1]

Adults are on wing from late March to early June.

The larvae feed on Picea abies, Picea excelsa, Picea sitchensis and Abies alba. The larvae mine and later spin the needles of their host, causing a decrease in growth.

References

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  1. ^ Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Keys and description
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