Species Details
Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameSpruce Needleminer
SeasonalityAdults emerge and begin to fly in mid June to early July.
IdentificationSmall sized Endothenia species. Alberta specimens show a distinctive forewing pattern of alternating brown and white vertical bars. Generally these moths exhibit grayish-brown colors with a wingspan of approximately 1/2 inch (Spackman 1991).
Scientific Name
Endothenia albolineana
Common Name
Spruce Needleminer
Habitat
Likely forests or other areas with spruce trees present, since this species shows a strong association with spruce trees (Spackman 1991 and Shetlar 2006).
Seasonality
Adults emerge and begin to fly in mid June to early July.
Identification
Small sized Endothenia species. Alberta specimens show a distinctive forewing pattern of alternating brown and white vertical bars. Generally these moths exhibit grayish-brown colors with a wingspan of approximately…
Small sized Endothenia species. Alberta specimens show a distinctive forewing pattern of alternating brown and white vertical bars. Generally these moths exhibit grayish-brown colors with a wingspan of approximately 1/2 inch (Spackman 1991).
Life History
Larvae over winter in constructed nests made up of live and dead spruce needles. Nests are usually found at the base of large branches where the thickest growth occurs. Females lay between 2-8 eggs beside a needle,…
Larvae over winter in constructed nests made up of live and dead spruce needles. Nests are usually found at the base of large branches where the thickest growth occurs. Females lay between 2-8 eggs beside a needle, which hatch in about 10 days. The larvae usually pupate in late May to early June and adults emerge approximately two weeks later. (Spackman 1991). One generation per year (Cranshaw et. al. 1994).
Conservation
Not of concern.
Diet Info
Larvae hosts include a variety of spruce tree species (Shetlar 2006). The larvae feed on the entire contents of spruce needles (Spackman 1991). However, the larvae only feed on dead needles (Shetlar 2006).
Range
Most of Northern United States and Canada (Shetlar 2006). Recorded Alberta specimen was collected in Edmonton.
Notes
Considered a pest species in the United States and Canada (Spackman (1991), Shetlar (2006) and Horticulture Inquiries (2006)).
Citation
Page Citation for Endothenia albolineana
Page Citation
"Species Details - Endothenia albolineana, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search-test.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-5952. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
References
Title
Horticulture Inquiries.
Publication Date
2006
Author
Spackman, E.
Title
Insects and related pests of trees, shrubs, and lawns.
Publication Date
1991
Author
Cranshaw, W, Leatherman, D. and Kondratieff, B.
Title
Insects that feed on Colorado trees and shrubs.
Publication Date
1994
Author
Shetlar, D.
Title
The Bug Docs Homepage.
Publication Date
2006
Specimen Information
There are 23 specimens of this Species.
UASM52775 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected BySperling, Felix A. H.
Date Collected1999-07-09
UASM92659 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2008-09-08
UASM92660 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Collected ByAnweiler, G. G.
Date Collected2008-09-08
BIRD22761 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2008-07-03
BIRD22762 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2008-07-20
BIRD22763 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2008-07-20
BIRD22764 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2008-07-20
BIRD25885 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2000-07-26
BIRD25886 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rochon Sands Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2001-06-19
BIRD25887 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2000-07-26
BIRD25888 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2001-07-06
BIRD25889 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Winfield
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2003-07-01
BIRD25890 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-05-24
BIRD25891 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-06-19
BIRD25892 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2004-07-10
BIRD25893 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Erskine
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2005-05-16
BIRD25894 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2005-06-21
BIRD25895 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2005-06-21
BIRD25896 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2005-06-21
BIRD25897 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2005-06-21
BIRD25898 - Endothenia albolineana
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Chambers Creek Provincial Recreation Area
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2005-07-05