ABIES. Firs. [Pinaceae]

Thirteen species of Abies are recorded in Britain. All are introduced and include European Silver-fir (A. alba).

No Diptera miners are recorded on Abies in Britain or elsewhere.

Three non-Diptera miners, Epinotia fraternana, Epinotia pygmaeana and Epinotia subsequana, are recorded on Abies in Britain (see below).

Elsewhere one additional British non-Diptera miner, Batrachedra pinicolella, is recorded on Abies.

A key to the European mines on Abies, based on characteristics of the mines, immature stages and where relevant the larval cases, is provided in Bladmineerders van Europa. This key includes Argyresthia fundella, Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana, Nemophora associatella, Cymolomia hartigiana, Batrachedra pinicolella, Archips oporana, Dichelia histrionana, Epinotia pygmaeana, Epinotia subsequana, Epinotia pusillana and Epinotia fraternana but not Aphelia viburnana, Argyrotaenia ljungiana, Chionodes electella, Ditula angustiorana or Pseudohermenias abietana.

Key for the identification of the mines of British non-Diptera recorded on
Abies and Picea

Note: The larvae of mining Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera may live in a corridor mine, a corridor-blotch mine, a blotch mine, a case, a rolled or folded leaf, a tentiform mine or sandwiched between two more or less circular leaf sections in later instars. Larva may pupate in a silk cocoon. The larva may have at least six legs (although they may be reduced or absent), a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding). Larvae of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera usually also have abdominal legs (see examples). Frass, if present, never in two rows. Unless feeding externally from within a case the larva usually vacates the mine by chewing an exit hole. Pupa with visible head appendages, wings and legs which lie in sheaths (see examples).

On Picea, but not yet on Abies, in Britain and Abies and Picea elsewhere. Widepread in Britain and continental Europe.

Batrachedra pinicolella (Zeller, 1839) [Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae]

1b > Miner, but not a case-bearer.

2

2a > Leaf-miner: The larva spins a number of needles together in a more or less conical spinning, then mines out one needle after another. The larva enters and leaves a needle through the same opening, mostly in the distal half of the needle. Most frass is ejected, part of it is trapped in the spinning. During feeding the larva pauses to rest in the mine. Most mines in the older needles. Larval body light green; head, pronotum and anal plate light brown; anal comb present, brown, with 4-7 prongs; thoracic legs green; pinacula brown. Pupation external (Bladmineerders van Europa).

On Abies, but not yet on Picea, in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Epinotia fraternana (Haworth, 1811) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]

2b > Leaf-miner: Groups of young needles are completely mined out by the young larvae. Between the needles only a few strands of silk (often also bud scales are trapped in the silk). Later in summer the larva lives free among spun needles. Larva light greenish, with black brown head and pronotum. Anal comb present, c. 6 prongs. Pinacula moderately large, concolorous with the integument. Prolegs with c. 45 crochets in a double row (Bladmineerders van Europa).

On Abies and Picea in Britain and elsewhere. Widespread in Britain and continental Europe.

Epinotia pygmaeana (Hübner, 1799) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]

2c > Leaf-miner: Eggs are deposited in groups of 4-5 on top of the midrib of a young needle. The larva penetrates a needle through an oval opening made in the lower half of a leaf, eats its way up to the tip, then down again, finally leaving the leaf through the same opening. A number of needles are mined in this way. The crossing is protected by spinning between the needles. After a first moult the larva begins to mine less young leaves. Older larvae live free among spun needles.Head black or yellowish brown with black sides; pronotum black. Body pale yellowish to greyish green; pinacula inconspicuous (Bladmineerders van Europa).

On Abies and Picea in Britain and elsewhere. England including East Suffolk, Herefordshire and South Hampshire and widespread in continental Europe.

Epinotia subsequana (Haworth, 1811) [Lepidoptera: Tortricidae]