Ocnerostoma friesei
Not all Ermine Moths are dotted or speckled. Ocnerostoma friesei certainly isn't. And not only is it unspeckled, compared to the other ermines on this site it is extremely small, for it reaches a wingspan of 8 to 10 mm only. The wings of the females are white, those of the males are grey. The first generation is on the wing from March to mid-May, the second generation flies about in August. We find the larvae in the needles of the Scots Pine, also known as Scotch Pine and Scots Fir. They eat the needles contents, untill it turns red completely. Once full grown, the larvae abandon their needle. Outside they weave a few needles together and pupate between them. Ocnerostoma friesei looks extremely much like Ocnerostoma piniariella. The moths can be told apart definitely by genital research only. The time the larvae are active is different though: those of Ocnerostoma piniariella feed in April and May, while the caterpillars of Ocnerostoma friesei are active from December to March, producing the first generation and again in June and Juli producing a 2nd generation.
