Adoxophyes honmai Yasuda (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Common names: smaller tea tortrix
FWL: 8.0–9.5 mm
Forewing pattern is similar to Adoxophyes orana and other Asian Adoxophyes, and the various species cannot be separated based solely on wing pattern.
Male genitalia are characterized by a finger-like uncus; reduced socii; spined transtilla lobes; and rounded, membranous valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a long ductus bursae and strongly hooked signum at the base of the corpus bursae.
Although tea pests are not a top concern for United States agriculture, this species is treated here as part of the A. orana complex in Asia.
The following account is summarized from Sakamaki and Hayakawa (2004)Sakamaki and Hayakawa (2004):
Sakamaki, Y., Hayakawa, T. 2004. Specific differences in larval and pupal characters of Japanese species of Adoxophyes (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Applied Entomology and Zoology. 39: 443-453..
Similar to other Adoxophyes, late instar larvae vary in body color and are approximately 20 mm in length. The head and prothoracic shield are black in early instars and become brown to yellowish brown in later instars. Legs are unmarked. Sakamaki and Hayakawa (2004)Sakamaki and Hayakawa (2004):
Sakamaki, Y., Hayakawa, T. 2004. Specific differences in larval and pupal characters of Japanese species of Adoxophyes (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Applied Entomology and Zoology. 39: 443-453. attempted to separate the immature stages of the three Japanese species of Adoxophyes using morphology but the differences they found are too minor to be diagnostic.
Genitalia of Adoxophyes honmai are similar to those of other Adoxophyes. According to Yasuda (1998)Yasuda (1998):
Yasuda, T. 1998. The Japanese species of the genus Adoxophyes Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Transactions of the Lepidopterological Society of Japan. 49: 159-173., male A. honmai can be distinguished from A. orana based on the following combination of characters: uncus dorsally truncate and narrow; apical membranous projection on uncus small and shrunken; brachiola (membranous apical projection off valva) “finger-shaped;” and transtilla lobes not touching at the proximal ends. Females are distinguished from A. orana by a smaller bursa copulatrix and longer ductus bursae.
Adoxophyes honmai is similar to other species of Adoxophyes in Asia, including A. dubia (Japan), A. orana beijingensis (China), A. orana fasciata (Japan), A. orana orana (China, Korea, and Europe), and A. privatana (China). All are difficult to separate and molecular diagnostics may be required for a positive identification (see Lee et al. 2005Lee et al. 2005:
Lee, S. Y., Park, H., Boo, K. S., Park, K.-T., Cho, S. 2005. Molecular identification of Adoxophyes honmai (Yasuda) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) based on mitochondrial COI gene sequences. Molecules and Cells. 19: 391-397.).
Adoxophyes honmai has been recorded from Japan and Korea. Other tea-feeding Adoxophyes species are present in Asia, and it is unknown if these are conspecific with A. honmai.
The following account is summarized from Tamaki (1991)Tamaki (1991):
Tamaki, Y. 1991. Tortricids in tea, pp. 541-551. In : van der Geest , L. P. S., Evenhuis, H. H. (eds.), Tortricid Pests: Their Biology, Natural Enemies, and Control. World Crop Pests, Vol. 5. Elsevier, Amsterdam. and Yasuda (1998)Yasuda (1998):
Yasuda, T. 1998. The Japanese species of the genus Adoxophyes Meyrick (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Transactions of the Lepidopterological Society of Japan. 49: 159-173..
Adoxophyes honmai completes 4–5 generations per year in Japan. Adults are present April through November. Adults are capable of long dispersal and can fly up to 5 km per night. Females lay eggs in masses on the underside of tea leaves (Camellia sinensis). First instar larvae disperse to feed on young leaves or shoot tips. Later instars web together leaves to create a nest in which pupation occurs. Larvae complete 5–6 instars; overwintering occurs in the larval stage although there is no diapause.
Adoxophyes honmai is the most common pest of tea in Japan along with Homona magnanima Diakonoff. Larvae of A. honmai cause damage that is uniformly distributed on the tea bush, where the damage caused by H. magnanima is restricted to one area of the plant. Sakamaki and Hayakawa (2004)Sakamaki and Hayakawa (2004):
Sakamaki, Y., Hayakawa, T. 2004. Specific differences in larval and pupal characters of Japanese species of Adoxophyes (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae). Applied Entomology and Zoology. 39: 443-453. recorded Adoxophyes dubia as feeding on tea in Japan, sometimes occurring sympatrically with A. honmai.
In addition to tea, A. honmai has been recorded feeding on host plants in several other families.
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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