| Exoteleia dodecella | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Gelechiidae |
| Genus: | Exoteleia |
| Species: | E. dodecella |
| Binomial name | |
| Exoteleia dodecella | |
| Synonyms | |
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Exoteleia dodecella, the pine bud moth, is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It is widely distributed from western Europe to Siberia. It is an introduced species in North America. [2]
The wingspan is 9–15 mm. [3] The head is grey, face whitish. Terminal joint of palpi as long as second. Forewings are whitish, densely irrorated with dark fuscous, appearing grey; indistinct broad darker fasciae at 1/3 and 2/3 a black basal dot, and a dash beneath costa at 1/4; two black dots transversely placed in disc at 1/4; stigmata black, first discal above plical, another black dot below second discal; a fine indistinct whitish interrupted fascia at 3/4 : on undersurface a longitudinal patch of thinly set erect scales in disc. Hindwings 1, grey. The larva is brownish-flesh colour; dots black; head black-brown. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Adults are on wing from June to July. [8]
The larvae feed on Larix europaeus , Pinus mugo and Pinus sylvestris . Young larvae mine the needles of their host plant. [9] Mining larvae can be found from September to March.
