Archips cerasivorana (Fitch) (Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Common names: ugly-nest caterpillar
FWL: 7.5–9.5 mm (male); 9.0–12.0 mm (female)
Forewing color varies from bright orange to yellow, often with faint purplish markings. The hindwing is yellow or yellowish brown. Males have a forewing costal fold.
Male genitalia are characterized by a finger-like uncus; absent socii; and large, circular, membranous valvae. Female genitalia are characterized by a long, straight ductus bursae with cestum present; and a well-developed dagger-like signum in the corpus bursae.
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..
Last instar larvae are 19–26 mm in length with a yellow to dark yellowish-green abdomen. The head, prothoracic shield, thoracic legs, and anal shield are dark brown to black. An anal comb is absent.
For a more detailed account of larval chaetotaxy, see MacKay (1962a)MacKay (1962a):
MacKay, M. R. 1962a. Larvae of the North American Tortricinae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 28: 1-182..
Archips cerasivorana is very similar to A. rileyana, both in appearance and larval habits. Freeman (1958)Freeman (1958):
Freeman, T. N. 1958. The Archipinae of North America (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Canadian Entomologist, Supplement 7 (Vol. 90): 1-89. considered A. rileyana a subspecies of A. cerasivorana, but Obraztsov (1959)Obraztsov (1959):
Obraztsov, N. S. 1959. Characters separating Archips rileyanus and cerasivoranus as two species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Entomological News. 70: 263-267. demonstrated that both adults and larvae of the two species can be separated. Archips cerasivorana is characterized by an uncus with parallel sides in the male, a large blunt signum in the female, and smaller, sometimes body-colored pinacula on the larval abdomen. Archips rileyana is characterized by a spatulate uncus in the male, a moderate pointed signum in the female, and very large, conspicuous, black pinacula on the larval abdomen.
Larvae of A. rileyana are very similar to those of A. cerasivorana. Larvae of A. rileyana have very large, conspicuous, black pinacula, whereas those of A. cerasivorana are smaller, and range from body-colored to black.
Archips cerasivorana occurs across southern Canada and the northern half of the United States. Records from the southern United States most likely refer to A. rileyana.
Archips cerasivorana completes one generation per year. Adults are present in July and August. Females lay eggs in masses of 25–200 eggs at the base of shoots, often near the ground. Eggs overwinter and first instar larvae hatch in May.
Unlike many tortricids, the larvae are social, and feeding occurs in silken nests on terminal leaves of the host plants. A typical nest may contain 30–200 larvae and reach up to 30 inches in diameter. The nest is expanded when the colony needs additional food and feeding always occurs under the protection of the nest. Early stages skeletonize leaves while later stages consume entire leaves. Pupation occurs in chambers constructed in the nest from frass and silk.
Archips cerasivorana is primarily associated with cherry (Prunus spp.), and its most common host is Prunus virginiana (chokecherry). During outbreak conditions the larvae may utilize other hosts, many of which are listed below.
View full screen host table here
Authors: KA Austin, TM Gilligan, ME Epstein
Content last updated May 2025
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