About Exoteleia dodecella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Exoteleia dodecella, commonly called the pine bud moth, is a moth species belonging to the family Gelechiidae. It has a wide natural distribution ranging from western Europe to Siberia, and is an introduced species in North America. The wingspan of adult pine bud moths measures 9 to 15 mm. Individuals have grey heads and whitish faces. The terminal segment of the palpi is the same length as the second segment. Forewings are whitish in base color, densely speckled with dark fuscous that gives the wing an overall grey appearance. It has two indistinct, broad darker fasciae located at 1/3 and 2/3 of the forewing length. There is a black basal dot, a dark dash under the costa at 1/4 length, and two black dots placed transversely in the disc at 1/4 length. Stigmata are black, with the first discal stigma positioned above the plical stigma, and an additional black dot located below the second discal stigma. A fine, indistinct, interrupted whitish fascia is present at 3/4 length. On the undersurface of the forewing, there is a longitudinal patch of thinly arranged erect scales in the disc. Hindwings are grey, and have vein 1 present. The larva is brownish-flesh colored, with black dots, and a black-brown head. Adult moths are active on the wing between June and July. Larvae feed on Larix europaeus, Pinus mugo, and Pinus sylvestris. Young larvae mine inside the needles of their host plants, and mining larvae can be found from September to March.
