Chionodes abella explained

Chionodes abella is a moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is found in North America, where it has been recorded from Idaho and south-western British Columbia to Colorado, Texas and California.[1] [2]

The wingspan is about 15 mm. The forewings are white, thickly suffused with fuscous, obliterating the white ground-color except on the apical third of the wing, which is pure white. Near base is an ill-defined oblique costal streak with only a few dark scales therefore appearing whitish against the darker surrounding parts. The hindwings are light fuscous.[3]

The larvae feed on Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies concolor, Abies grandis, Abies lasiocarpa, Pinus contorta and Pinus radiata.

Notes and References

  1. http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gelechioidea/gelechiidae/gelechiinae/chionodes/ Chionodes at funet
  2. http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=2055 mothphotographersgroup
  3. https://archive.org/stream/proceedingsofuni251903unit#page/889/mode/1up Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 25 (1304) : 889