Hemlock Yellow Conch
Aethes beatricella
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aethes_beatricella
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Hemlock Yellow Conch faces severe pressure from the widespread decline of its host plant, eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), which has been devastated by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid across much of its North American range. Climate change compounds this threat by altering the temperature and moisture conditions that both the moth and its hemlock hosts require for survival. Forest fragmentation and logging operations further reduce available habitat, while the species' specialized feeding requirements make it particularly vulnerable to any disruption of hemlock forest ecosystems.
Habitat
This specialized moth inhabits mature eastern hemlock forests across northeastern North America, where larvae feed exclusively on hemlock foliage. The species requires intact forest canopies with stable temperature and humidity conditions typical of old-growth hemlock stands.
Other threatened species in Tortricidae
Threatened in Croatia
Frequently asked questions
Why is Hemlock Yellow Conch classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Hemlock Yellow Conch live?
What are the main threats to Hemlock Yellow Conch?
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