Life History and Habits of the Green Spruce Leaf Miner, Epinotia nanana (Treitschke) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Epinotia nanana (Tr.) has become increasingly important in recent years in Quebec as it has caused severe defoliation of ornamental spruce trees in the Berthierville area, Quebec. The insect has a one-year life cycle and overwinters in the larval stage, mainly in the fifth instar, in a mined needle. Damage is most noticeable in the spring. Fairly heavy mortality, probably due to unfavourable climatic conditions, occurs among overwintering larvae. The amount of control exerted by parasites is always low.