Aphelia alleniana (Fernald) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Common names: Allen’s tortrix moth, wide-striped leafroller
Synonyms: allenana (Tortrix), rindgeorum (Aphelia alleniana ssp.), trentonana (Tortrix)
FWL: 10–13 mm
Head and thorax variable in color: red, golden brown or gray-olive. Male lacking forewing costal fold. Ground color of forewing golden brown to straw yellow with faint median and terminal fascia. Some specimens are almost unicolorous.
Male genitalia are characterized by a sinuate uncus apex and a laterally scobinate gnathos. Female genitalia are characterized a small, round signum with two short, conical tips. Subspecies A. a. rindgeorum is characterized by a brighter FW color; broader, more complete fasciae; and a proportionally smaller gnathos.
The larva was first described by Venables (1924)Venables (1924):
Venables, E. P. 1924. Leaf-rollers attacking orchard trees in the Okanagan Valley. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of British Columbia. 21: 22-26.. The following account is summarized from MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..
Mature larvae 18–23 mm in length; width of head 1.4–1.6 mm. Head brownish yellow, prothoracic shield yellowish or concolorous with abdomen, with scattered darker pigmentation laterally; legs yellowish or concolorous with abdomen; abdomen pale yellowish. Larva entirely green or dark green in life. SV group on A1, 2, 7, 8, 9 usually 3:3:3:2:2; anal fork present and well-developed.
Detailed figures of larval chaetotaxy are available in MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..
The pupa is 12 to 15 mm long and dark brown (Martin 1958Martin 1958:
Martin, J. L. 1958. Observations on the biology of certain tortricids in young coniferous plantations in southern Ontario. Canadian Entomologist. 90: 44-53.).
Aphelia alleniana could be confused with some species of Choristoneura which lack a costal fold, such as C. parallela and C. obsoletana. They are most reliably separated by examination of the genitalia.
Aphelia alleniana is broadly distributed across much of the northern United States and southern Canada. Subspecies A. a. rindgeorum was described from Colorado.
The following account is summarized from Martin (1958)Martin (1958):
Martin, J. L. 1958. Observations on the biology of certain tortricids in young coniferous plantations in southern Ontario. Canadian Entomologist. 90: 44-53..
Though highly polyphagous, Aphelia alleniana oviposition is primarily restricted to white sweetclover (Melilotus albus) and alflalfa (Medicago sativa). Beginning in early June in Ontario and continuing into early August, eggs are laid in masses of approximately 20 to 140 eggs on the upper surface of leaves of these two plants. Fresh masses are light greenish-yellow but become bright orange with age. Eggs hatch in approximately two weeks. Larvae will disperse primarily by ballooning but will wander if wind conditions are not suitable. If they land in a suitable place, larvae tie two young leaves together and feed in this fashion until August or September, at which point they spin a hibernaculum to overwinter, usually as a third instar larva. Larva begin feeding again in the spring, usually in early May and will tie more and more leaves together as they grow. It is at this point that larvae can again begin to wander, looking for new host plants. Pupation occurs in late May to mid June, with adults eclosing beginning approximately two weeks later and continuing to fly and mate into early August.
Aphelia alleniana is highly polyphagous, having been recorded feeding on at least 38 species of plants in 15 different families.
View full screen host table here
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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